Joshua Zirkzee celebrates his match-winning goal during his Manchester United debut against Fulham in the Premier League opener at Old Trafford. © Twitter (@views09)
Joshua Zirkzee’s Late Strike Seals Victory for Manchester United in Premier League Opener Against Fulham
In the Premier League opener, Manchester United secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fulham, thanks to a late goal from debutant Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutch striker, who recently joined the Red Devils from Bologna for £36.5 million, came off the bench to score the important goal in the 87th minute, ensuring a winning start for Erik ten Hag’s side at Old Trafford.
Match Summary
Manchester United entered the match with a sense of urgency, eager to put last season’s disappointing eighth-place finish behind them. However, their early performance mirrored the struggles of the previous campaign, as Fulham threatened to spoil the party. The visitors, who had defeated United at Old Trafford in February, started brightly, with Andre Onana making a crucial save to deny Kenny Tete’s ambitious long-range effort.
United found it difficult to break down a resolute Fulham defense despite dominating possession. Bruno Fernandes, deployed as a makeshift striker in the absence of Rasmus Hojlund, had two golden opportunities but was thwarted by Fulham’s goalkeeper, Bernd Leno. Mason Mount also came close to opening the scoring but was denied by Leno’s quick reflexes.
Zirkzee’s Moment of Magic
The breakthrough finally came in the 87th minute. Alejandro Garnacho, who had been lively since coming on as a substitute, delivered a cross that seemed to be heading nowhere. However, Zirkzee, showing the instincts of a seasoned poacher, managed to stretch out a foot and direct the ball past Leno into the far corner. The goal sent the Old Trafford faithful into raptures and gave Zirkzee a debut to remember.
“To win here in my first home game and to grab a goal, it couldn’t be better,” Zirkzee said post-match. “I’ve been told scoring at the Stretford End is one of the best feelings at Manchester United. I’m so thankful and blessed I could experience it in my first game.”
United’s Defensive Resilience
In the closing stages, Fulham pushed for an equalizer, but United’s defense, led by Lisandro Martinez, stood firm. Martinez, a rock at the back all game, made a crucial clearance to deny Andreas Pereira a clear chance, ensuring that Zirkzee’s goal would be the match-winner.
Post-Match Reflections
Erik Ten Hag was candid in his post-match assessment, acknowledging that work is still to be done. “We created many chances and should have scored earlier,” Ten Hag admitted. “That is the only criticism of the team: kill in the box!”
The Dutch manager, however, was pleased with the fighting spirit shown by his players and the belief the victory would instill moving forward. “It’s good to strengthen the belief,” he added. “I have seen many spaces where we must improve, but that is normal at this season stage.”
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Manchester United must build on this victory as they continue their quest for a top-4 finish this season. With key players still missing through injury or lacking match fitness, Ten Hag’s squad depth will be tested in the coming weeks. Zirkzee’s impactful debut is a positive sign, and United fans will be hoping that the Dutch forward can continue to deliver as the season progresses.
For Fulham, despite the defeat, there were positives to take away from their performance. They proved they could compete against the big teams and will look to bounce back in their next fixture.
