Premier League: United start season with a win
Manchester United 1 - 0 Fulham
Joshua Zirkzee quickly became an Old Trafford favourite by scoring an 87th-minute winner against Fulham.
The former Bologna striker was brought on alongside Alejandro Garnacho after an hour, as United struggled to break down Marco Silva's side.
With time running out, the duo combined brilliantly, with the Argentine winger delivering a cross from the right that Zirkzee expertly guided into the bottom corner, dealing a crushing blow to Fulham.United had a slow start, with Andre Onana forced to tip a Kenny Tete effort over the bar early on. But as the match progressed, United posed the greater threat.
Fulham's goalkeeper Bernd Leno was in fine form, making three crucial saves to deny United. First, he thwarted Bruno Fernandes, drawing visible frustration from the Portuguese midfielder.
Then, it was Mason Mount's turn. His attempt was also stopped by Leno after a cross from Marcus Rashford. Despite these setbacks, United were determined to pick up three points.
Although Erik ten Hag hinted that his side might not have been fully prepared for the match, they still found a way to secure the victory. Zirkzee was to be the United hero on his debut.
The final whistle was met with euphoria, reflecting the optimism that surrounded United in the lead-up to the game. Zirkzee's composed celebration was reminiscent of another Dutchman, Ruud van Nistelrooy, who now plays a key role in Ten Hag's coaching staff.
If Zirkzee gets anywhere close to the 150 goals in five seasons Van Nistelrooy managed for United, he will have done extremely wzell. Just like his illustrious fellow countryman, he scored on his Premier League debut against Fulham. United fans will hoping Zirkzee has a similar career to one of their greatest ever strikers.
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Clips from the crowd
The video below from the European Super Football YouTube account shows some of the best clips from the crowd from Old Trafford as their team started the season with a win.
Much better from United
Ken, a Manchester United fan from North Manchester, was happy enough with United's progress over the summer. He said: "The squad is looking decent, and we are in a better state without a shadow of a doubt.
"It was embarrassing in large parts of last season and almost pathetic in certain games. Where we are now is a much stronger position. Injuries had a negative impact last season, and that can't happen again. Hopefully, we have turned a corner."
Plenty of positives for Fulham
Jamie is a Fulham fan that was in the away end at Old Trafford. He told us: "The fans are disappointed with the outcome of the game. We had a great start and created some very promising opportunities, but unfortunately, we couldn't convert them into goals. It's a tough loss to take. However, there's plenty of positives."
