Manchester United drew 1-1 with Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday. Matheus Cunha scored a late equaliser for Michael Carrick’s side.
The Brazilian forward rescued United from a third defeat in one week. Earlier, Lisandro Martínez put the ball into his own net.
However, the result still leaves Carrick with plenty to consider. United now have the international break to regroup.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Robert Bore reviews the game at Craven Cottage.
Must-win clash vs Cottagers
For some reason, Fulham always brings Hugh Grant to mind.
I mean the classic romantic-comedy version of Grant. Think Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill.
I am not talking about the more recent Grant. I mean the floppy fringe and carefully spoken words.
I will not even mention Liz Hurley.
Still, leafy south-west London provided the setting for a crucial match. United needed a result before a long international break.
Almost four months after Carrick joined the club, the relationship looks different.
At first, everything seemed positive. United had won 11 of their first 16 games. That run helped secure Champions League football.
The mood has changed quickly, though.
United suffered a difficult week before the Fulham match. VAR played a major role in the Manchester derby defeat. Brighton then came from two goals down to knock United out of the League Cup.
Earlier, United had also lost to Hull City. They then conceded a late equaliser against Everton.
The Champions League win over nine-year-old Sabah provided some relief. However, that result did little to ease the pressure.
Carrick therefore needed a strong response at Craven Cottage.
Luke Shaw returned to the starting line-up. His return also offered good news for Marcus Rashford.
Rashford had impressed in midweek despite the defeat. However, he still needed to find the net.
Benjamin Šeško did not make the squad. New signing Carlos Baleba, meanwhile, started on the bench.
Diogo Dalot also started again. His latest display drew criticism from Football Park, which gave him a 2/10 rating.
A frenetic opening period
Fulham made the brighter start. The hosts moved the ball around freely and created the first chance.
Gonzalo García fired wide from an early opportunity.
United soon responded. Bruno Fernandes headed toward goal, but a defender blocked his effort.
From the resulting corner, Lisandro Martínez tested Bernd Leno from 25 yards. The Fulham goalkeeper pushed the shot away.
Bryan Mbeumo then headed wide.
The opening stages looked lively, but the game lacked real quality.
Fulham continued to threaten. García nearly reached a cross, while Josh King fired wide from a tight angle.
United then created a better chance.
Mbeumo found Cunha on the right. The Brazilian used his strength to beat his defender.
Cunha then cut the ball back for Fernandes. However, the midfielder saw his effort strike the far post.
Fulham responded immediately.
Senne Lammens saved from King after Alex Iwobi got behind Dalot. Sander Berge also went close after United struggled to clear their lines.
Goalless at the break
Oscar Bobb created another chance for Fulham. He turned well near the edge of the box but fired wide.
United then threatened through Cunha. His shot took a deflection before looping onto the post.
Fulham continued to create openings. King beat Shaw, but Lammens saved his effort.
Iwobi also enjoyed plenty of space against Dalot.
United tried to build attacks through Rashford. However, the forward could not find the target with one effort.
Kobbie Mainoo then produced a strong run. He held off two challenges and helped United move forward.
The move eventually broke down.
Meanwhile, Iwobi found space behind the United defence. Lammens again reacted quickly to stop the danger.
The game remained goalless despite several chances.
Cunha later reached the by-line and cut the ball across the box. Mbeumo touched it, which seemed to surprise Rashford.
The forward could not adjust his body in time. His effort flew over the crossbar.
Rashford had shown positive signs since returning. However, he still needed a goal to complete his improvement.
King received a booking just before the break. The referee punished him for diving near the United penalty area.
United concede own goal
The second half began with a booking for Timothy Castagne.
The Fulham defender caught Rashford as United tried to break forward.
Carrick’s side needed to increase the tempo. Youri Tielemans released Rashford soon after the restart.
Rashford then tried to find Mbeumo with a cross-field pass. However, the pass lacked accuracy.
United struggled to create momentum after the break.
Iwobi wasted a half-chance after another defensive mistake. Fulham then continued to press forward.
The opening goal finally arrived through an unfortunate moment for United.
Calvin Bassey used his strength to beat Cunha near halfway. He then drove toward the United goal.
Bassey produced a decent strike. Lammens pushed the ball away, but it bounced toward Martínez.
The United defender could not react in time. He accidentally turned the ball into his own net from close range.
Fulham had taken the lead.
United needed an immediate response.
Mbeumo almost provided it after a corner fell to Rashford. The forward then squared the ball across the box.
Mbeumo met the pass with a first-time effort. However, Leno produced another excellent save.
United continued to search for an equaliser. Yet their attacking play lacked sharpness.
Cunha finds late equaliser
Leno remained busy as United pushed forward.
The Fulham goalkeeper made another full-length save to deny Cunha. The Brazilian tried to find the far corner with a low effort.
Carrick then prepared another change.
Joshua Zirkzee came on as United looked for a goal. Rashford left the pitch after another frustrating afternoon.
Fulham also made several substitutions. Mainoo then made way for Mason Mount.
Time was running out for United.
Fernandes struggled to influence the match. His final passes lacked accuracy, while some attacking moves broke down.
United continued to send crosses into the Fulham box. The hosts defended those deliveries well.
It looked like United would leave Craven Cottage empty-handed.
Then Cunha produced the moment Carrick needed.
Substitute Patrick Dorgu played the ball inside to Cunha. The Brazilian received it on the left side of the penalty area.
Cunha tried his luck from distance.
The shot took a major deflection off David Affengruber. The change in direction wrong-footed Leno and sent the ball into the net.
United had found their equaliser.
The visitors pushed for a winner in the final minutes. Martínez saw another effort blocked from a corner.
Dorgu then headed wide under pressure.
The referee soon brought the match to an end.
Carrick remains under pressure
It was a strange afternoon for Manchester United.
The visitors finished with 29 shots. However, their attacking play often lacked purpose.
United also struggled badly after half-time. At times, the players appeared short of energy and ideas.
The late equaliser gave Carrick some relief. Nevertheless, the draw leaves United with more questions to answer.
The international break now gives Carrick time to work with his squad.
United return to Premier League action against Spurs on October 10. They then face Atletico Madrid, Leeds United and Como in a busy run of fixtures.
Carrick will need to use the break effectively. United must improve their performances if they want to move forward.
For now, the 1-1 draw with Fulham gives them a point. Cunha’s late goal also prevented another damaging defeat.
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