Manchester United's Unbeaten Start to 2024 Ended by Fulham As Nigerian Duo Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi Score in Rare Away Win
Manchester United 1-2 Fulham
Fulham won at Old Trafford for the first time in more than 20 years on Saturday thanks to a 97th-minute goal from Alex Iwobi.
Calvin Bassey, another Nigeria international, had earlier fired Fulham in front before Harry Maguire scored an 89th-minute equalizer.
Saturday's result ended Manchester United's unbeaten start to 2024.
Alex Iwobi pictured celebrating after scoring a late winning goal for Fulham in a 2-1 victory at Manchester United on Saturday
IMAGO/Sportimage/Andrew Yates
The Red Devils had won six and drawn one of their first seven matches since the turn of the year.
Rasmus Hojlund had scored seven goals in those seven games but he was unavailable on Saturday due to a muscle injury.
In Hojlund's absence, 19-year-old Omari Forson made his first ever EPL start but lasted just 53 minutes before Erik ten Hag opted to make a change.
It was still 0-0 at this point but Fulham had been much the better team.
Fulham eventually took the lead 20 minutes into the second half when Bassey slammed home from nine yards following an Andreas Pereira corner.
Bassey attacked Pereira's corner with a volley that struck teammate Timothy Castagne before deflecting back into the path of the Nigerian, who smashed the ball high into the net with his second attempt.
As the final whistle approached, United sent Maguire forward as an emergency striker.
It worked as Maguire's first Premier League goal in more than two years drew the home side level in the 89th minute.
Maguire tapped home from close range after Bernd Leno had parried an initial effort from Bruno Fernandes.
Shortly after Maguire's goal had successfully passed a VAR check for a possible offside, the fourth official signaled that there would be at least nine minutes of added time.
Old Trafford was roused and United then spent the first five minutes of added time on the attack.
But a fine breakaway spearheaded by Adama Traore set up Iwobi to seal Fulham's first EPL away win since August.
