Manchester United endured a bitter reality check at Old Trafford as Alex Iwobi’s injury-time strike handed Fulham only their second victory at the venue since 1963.
Just four days after new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe expressed ambitions for United to challenge Manchester City and Liverpool for supremacy in English football, the team suffered a significant setback in their quest for Champions League qualification.
Lacking injured striker Rasmus Hojlund, the hosts struggled to make an impact in attack until the dying moments of normal time, when Harry Maguire appeared to salvage a point.
However, Iwobi dramatically sealed the win deep into nine minutes of stoppage time, reclaiming the lead initially secured by Nigeria defender Calvin Bassey, who capitalized on a loose ball after his header from a Fulham corner was blocked by his teammate Timothy Castagne.
The outcome halted Fulham’s streak of 11 Premier League away games without a victory, with only Sheffield United possessing a worse record on the road this season.
The defeat, and notably the lackluster performance, cast doubt on United’s ability to fulfill Ratcliffe’s ambitious aspirations in the foreseeable future.
