In a thrilling Premier League clash on Sunday, Manchester United clinched a much-needed 1-0 victory against Fulham, thanks to a late deflected strike from Lisandro Martinez.
Under the stewardship of coach Ruben Amorim, United have struggled to find form, securing only four league wins since Amorim took over from Erik ten Hag in November. Sunday's match at Craven Cottage was no different in the first half, with United creating few opportunities and looking out of sync.
The second half saw a shift in momentum as United began to find their footing. The breakthrough came in the 78th minute when Martinez's long-range effort took a crucial deflection before nestling into the net, securing all three points for the visitors.
Young substitute Toby Collyer's timely goal-line clearance late in the game thwarted Fulham's attempts to equalize, ensuring United's hard-fought victory. This win propels Amorim's side to 12th in the standings, trailing Fulham by four points.
Reflecting on the win, Martinez shared his thoughts with TNT Sports: \"I think I was lucky, but an important win. It doesn't matter who scores – the most important is the three points. It means a lot. Not only to the fans, but for us because we have suffered a lot. It is a hard win, at this club the pressure is hard, but we are here. We know how difficult it is. Even a game like today we have to win and be humble after winning.\"
The victory marks United's eighth consecutive league win at Fulham and their fourth of the last five games across all competitions. Despite a shaky start to the season, Amorim's side appears to be finding their groove, offering hope to fans and stakeholders alike.
Amad Diallo had Fulham believing they had scored in stoppage time, but a VAR review ruled him offside, keeping United's slender lead intact. With six losses in their previous nine league games before Sunday's match, this victory is a significant boost for the team's morale and standings.
Looking ahead, Manchester United aims to build on this momentum as they seek to climb higher in the Premier League standings and solidify their position under Amorim's leadership.
Reference(s):
Late Martinez strike earns Manchester United much-needed victory
cgtn.com
