Lisandro Martinez’s deflected goal gave Manchester United a much needed 1-0 win over Fulham on Sunday, easing the pressure on manager Ruben Amorim. The match, which had been dull for most of the 90 minutes, seemed set for a goalless draw until Martinez’s shot in the 78th minute deflected off Sasa Lukic and looped over goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
This victory marked United’s fourth Premier League win in 12 matches under Amorim, lifting them to 12th in the standings. Amorim mentioned that United’s best performances during his tenure had often come away from home, possibly due to the pressure of playing in front of an expectant Old Trafford crowd. However, this match reflected the struggles United has faced this season, often under two different managers, especially when playing against teams with far smaller budgets.
READ ALSO: Army to secure more crude production within the Niger delta, aims at 2.5m barrels
There wasn’t much for United’s co-owner Jim Ratcliffe to get excited about during the game, but the win eliminated any lingering fears of United being dragged into a relegation fight. Fulham started the game more brightly but lacked the cutting edge, and despite a few moments of promise, they never truly tested United’s defense.
United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who had made an error in the previous game against Brighton, was back in the starting lineup and made a couple of early saves from Alex Iwobi. It wasn’t until just before the hour mark that United posed a serious threat, with Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick narrowly missing the target.
Amorim made five changes to the team that beat Rangers 2-1 in the Europa League, including the return of Rasmus Hojlund. However, the Danish striker’s goal drought continued, extending to 11 matches. Fulham’s only real threat came when Adama Traore’s shot went just over the bar.
The breakthrough came from a stroke of luck as Martinez’s long-range shot was deflected off Lukic and looped into the top corner. Fulham still had a chance to equalize from a corner, but Joachim Andersen’s header was cleared off the line by Toby Collyer. United almost extended their lead when Amad Diallo’s goal in stoppage time was ruled offside by VAR.
The win, reminiscent of their 1-0 victory over Fulham at the start of the season, provided all three points for United. Fulham’s defeat hurt their European hopes, leaving them in 10th, seven points behind the top six.
