A deflected late strike from Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez earned Manchester United a much-needed 1-0 victory against Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday.
United, seeking only their fourth league win since coach Ruben Amorim succeeded Erik ten Hag in November, struggled to create chances in a lackluster first half at Craven Cottage.
The visitors improved after the break, but it wasn’t until the 78th minute that they found the breakthrough. Martinez’s long-range effort took a significant deflection, leaving Fulham’s goalkeeper with no chance as the ball found the back of the net.
“I think I was lucky, but it’s an important win,” Martinez told reporters after the match. “It doesn’t matter who scores—the most important thing is the three points. It means a lot, not only to the fans but for us because we have suffered a lot.”
Young substitute Toby Collyer made a crucial goal-line clearance late on, denying Fulham an equalizer. Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz had two golden opportunities to level the score but failed to convert.
Amad Diallo thought he had sealed the victory in stoppage time with a second goal, but it was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.
The win lifts Manchester United to 12th in the standings, four points behind 10th-placed Fulham. It’s a significant boost for Amorim’s side, who had lost six of their previous nine league games.
“It’s a hard win,” Martinez added. “At this club, the pressure is high, but we are here. Even in a game like today, we have to win and stay humble after winning.”
Manchester United will hope to build on this momentum as they continue their Premier League campaign.
Reference(s):
Late Martinez strike earns Manchester United much-needed victory
cgtn.com
