- Joshua Zirkzee scores a late winner on his Manchester United debut
- Alejandro Garnacho provides the assist for Zirkzee's decisive goal
- Fulham nearly repeated their Old Trafford upset from last season
Joshua Zirkzee made an instant impact in his first appearance for Manchester United, scoring a late winner to secure a 1-0 victory over Fulham in the opening match of the Premier League season on Friday. Despite lacking full-match fitness after his recent £36.5m ($47 million) transfer from Bologna, the Dutch international came off the bench in the final 30 minutes and delivered the crucial goal in the 87th minute, poking home Alejandro Garnacho’s cross.
Zirkzee’s debut goal rescues United against Fulham
In a post-match interview, Zirkzee took time to express his joy in putting smiles on the faces of his teammates and fans, Zirkzee said,
"To win here in my first home game and to grab a goal, it couldn't be better. I've been told (scoring at the Stretford End) is one of the best feelings at Manchester United. I'm so thankful and blessed I could experience it in my first game. It's an amazing feeling," he added.
United's manager, Erik ten Hag, who narrowly held onto his job after finishing eighth last season, was relieved with the win but acknowledged the work ahead.
"I have seen many spaces where we have to improve, but that is normal, it (the win) is good to strengthen the belief," added Ten Hag.
The match was tough for United, who were missing key players due to injuries and lacked match sharpness. Bruno Fernandes started as a makeshift centre-forward in Rasmus Hojlund's absence, while Noussair Mazraoui made his debut in the left-back position following his move from Bayern Munich.
Jadon Sancho, however, was left out of the squad despite resolving his issues with Ten Hag.
Fulham, who stunned United at Old Trafford last season, started brightly and could have taken the lead early on. Andre Onana made a crucial save by denying Kenny Tete’s shot.
United eventually grew into the game, with Fernandes and Mason Mount missing significant opportunities before Zirkzee’s late heroics.
In the closing minutes, United's defence had to dig deep, with Lisandro Martinez making a vital clearance. But it was Zirkzee who made the difference, finding the net with a slight touch on Garnacho’s cross.
Garnacho had a chance to add a second but missed an open goal, leaving United to hold on for a hard-fought win.
Ten Hag will take comfort in the result but knows there's much room for improvement as United looks to build momentum for the rest of the season.
However, it was an opening match to forget for Super Eagles duo Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, who failed to make a difference for their team
Community Shield Preview: 3 things to note as Man United take on Man City in derby final
Previously, TheRadar reported that Wembley Stadium will once again host its traditional curtain-raiser, the Community Shield match, signalling the return of English football today, August 10. The anticipation for the Premier League is building and fans are already excited.
The 117th FA Community Shield features a rematch of May’s FA Cup final, pitting Manchester City against Manchester United in a Manchester derby with significant implications.
