Joshua Zirkzee made a memorable debut for Manchester United, scoring a late winner to secure victory over Fulham in the opening match of the Premier League season on Friday. United Vs Fulham match ended with 1-0 scorecard after his goal.
Zirkzee, who joined United from Bologna for £36.5m ($47 million) last month, was introduced in the final half-hour due to his lack of match fitness. The Dutch international made an immediate impact, finding the net in the 87th minute by tapping in a cross from Alejandro Garnacho.
“Winning here in my first home game and scoring is a dream come true,” Zirkzee said. “I’ve heard that scoring at the Stretford End is one of the best feelings at Manchester United, and I feel so fortunate to have experienced it in my first match. It’s truly an amazing feeling.”
United manager Erik ten Hag, who narrowly retained his job last season after finishing eighth in the Premier League but winning the FA Cup, acknowledged there is still much room for improvement.
“I saw many areas where we need to get better, but that’s normal at the start of a season,” Ten Hag commented. “This win is good for building confidence.”
Ten Hag had expressed concerns before the match about his team not being fully prepared for the new campaign due to injuries and players lacking match fitness. His concerns were evident in the starting lineup, with Bruno Fernandes playing as a makeshift center-forward due to Rasmus Hojlund’s absence, and Zirkzee only making the bench after a late return from Euro 2024. New signing Noussair Mazraoui made his debut at left-back after his move from Bayern Munich.
Fulham, who defeated United at Old Trafford for the first time in 20 years last February, started the match confidently. Andre Onana was forced into a crucial save to deny Kenny Tete’s effort early on.
United gradually found their rhythm, with Fernandes and Mason Mount both being denied by Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Ten Hag’s frustration was clear as he urged his team to be more clinical in front of goal.
Seeking a breakthrough, Ten Hag brought on Garnacho and Zirkzee, a move that eventually paid off. Fulham came close to causing an upset, but Andreas Pereira’s misplaced pass and a last-ditch clearance from Lisandro Martinez kept United in the game. United Vs Fulham
Zirkzee’s decisive goal came when he managed to stretch and direct Garnacho’s cross past Leno into the far corner. United nearly doubled their lead in stoppage time, but Garnacho missed a clear chance after a selfless pass from Marcus Rashford.
Despite the late drama, United held firm to secure a vital opening day win, giving Ten Hag the positive start he needed.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.