Fernandes Penalty Miss Proves Costly for United in Fulham Draw

Fulham substitute Emile Smith Rowe scored a late equaliser to deny Manchester United a first win of the new Premier League season, securing a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage on Sunday. The result was compounded by United captain Bruno Fernandes, who missed a first-half penalty that would have given his side the lead.

The drama began in the 38th minute when referee Chris Kavanagh, after a lengthy VAR review, awarded a penalty for a foul on Mason Mount by Fulham defender Calvin Bassey. However, Fernandes’ concentration was visibly disrupted moments before his run-up when he accidentally collided with Kavanagh. The Portuguese playmaker subsequently sent his spot-kick well over the crossbar, marking his first penalty miss in the league since December 2023.

United appeared to have overcome the setback when new signing Leny Yoro’s header deflected off Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz to give them a contentious lead in the 58th minute. The goal was awarded despite strong protests from the home side, with defender Bassey and manager Marco Silva arguing that Yoro had pushed him in the back.

However, Fulham’s resilience was rewarded with a late equaliser. Just two minutes after coming on as a substitute, Emile Smith Rowe pounced on a low cross from Alex Iwobi inside the six-yard box, slotting the ball past United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir to level the score in the 73rd minute. The draw ends a run of eight consecutive home defeats for Fulham against United, though both teams remain winless after two matches.

Goalkeeping Uncertainty Persists at United

The match also highlighted the ongoing debate surrounding Manchester United’s goalkeeping situation. Andre Onana, who was dropped for the season opener, remained on the bench in favour of Altay Bayindir. While the Turkish international demonstrated his ability with a superb long-range pass that set up a chance for Matheus Cunha and made a smart save to deny Josh King, he also appeared vulnerable on crosses and corners, mirroring issues from the previous week’s match against Arsenal.

The club’s pursuit of a new goalkeeper appears to be in an advanced stage. Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens, a 23-year-old Belgian youth international, was left out of his club’s squad on Sunday, fueling speculation of a potential transfer to Manchester. United has been monitoring Lammens for months, and a potential deal worth approximately £16 million is reportedly close to completion. The arrival of Lammens could cast doubt on the future of either Bayindir or Onana, though it is currently unclear who would be moved to accommodate the new signing.