Although I scored the winning goal but this particular guy was better than me and deserved all the praises”: Manchester United’s defender Lisandro Martinez has named ONE Man United’s teammate who better than him despite scoring the winning goal against Fulham

Lisandro Martínez emerged as the hero when his deflected shot in the second half secured a vital 1-0 victory for Manchester United over Fulham at Craven Cottage. This narrow win marked only their second away Premier League success since September and extended their strong unbeaten league record at this ground, a streak that has stood since December 2009.

The match itself, however, was far from exciting. Both teams struggled to showcase any real quality, with Manchester United offering little in attack for most of the game. Fulham, who have impressed this season, posed the greater offensive threat in the first half but were unable to capitalize on their dominance.

United’s defensive resilience was key. Despite a poor attacking display, they showed solid determination and grit at the back, preventing Fulham from scoring. United goalkeeper André Onana was rarely tested, with Fulham’s efforts generating just 0.2 expected goals. While Fulham had more possession early on, they failed to turn it into meaningful chances.

The first half was largely uneventful for United, who appeared content to absorb pressure and play conservatively. Their first shot came in the 42nd minute, when Matthijs de Ligt’s weak effort was easily saved by Bernd Leno. This was United’s fewest first-half attempts in a league match since failing to record any against Liverpool last April.

After halftime, United’s play noticeably improved. They enjoyed more possession, increasing their share from 50% in the first half to 65.4% by the 60th minute. Bruno Fernandes nearly opened the scoring with a well-placed free-kick that hit the side-netting, but both teams continued to struggle for quality in the final third. Neither side made a meaningful entry into the opponent’s penalty area until later in the second half, highlighting both teams’ attacking struggles.

In a match lacking creativity, it was fitting that the winning goal came in a somewhat fortunate manner. The ball reached Lisandro Martínez, who fired a speculative shot from 25 yards. A deflection off Sasa Lukic’s shin sent the ball over Leno and into the net, sparking celebrations among United’s players and supporters. This was Martínez’s third Premier League goal involvement under manager Ruben Amorim, with only Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo having more.

Fulham almost equalized late in the match, with Toby Collyer making a crucial clearance off the line to deny a header from Joachim Andersen. That vital intervention preserved United’s narrow lead and ensured they left Craven Cottage with all three points. It was a key moment that highlighted United’s defensive strength.

Amad Diallo thought he had sealed the win with a late goal, but it was disallowed for offside. Ultimately, it didn’t matter, as United held on for the much-needed victory. While the performance left much to be desired, the result provided a significant boost to morale and showcased United’s ability to secure results under pressure.