Man United suffers late heartbreak against Fulham

Manchester United faced a disheartening defeat at Old Trafford, succumbing to a 2-1 loss against Fulham, with Alex Iwobi striking deep into injury time to snatch victory for the visitors. The result came as a blow to Erik ten Hag's side, which had been looking to consolidate their position in the hunt for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Højlund being missed

The Red Devils were without their sharpshooter Rasmus Højlund, who had been in fine form in recent weeks. This absence handed young talent Omari Forson a start. Despite Forson's inclusion, United struggled to impose themselves early on, with Fulham's Alex Iwobi missing two significant chances to put the visitors ahead.

Onana keeps United alive

Goalkeeper Andre Onana was United's standout performer in the first half, making several critical saves to keep the score level. Fulham, showcasing better form, continually threatened United's goal, with Onana's heroics being the only barrier preventing them from taking the lead.

Fulham breaks the deadlock

The deadlock was finally broken past the hour mark when Bassey, the former Ajax player, found the net following a corner. His initial attempt ricocheted off teammate Timothy Castagne before Bassey managed to score on the second attempt. United, having already made two substitutions due to a head injury to Casemiro, found themselves trailing and in desperate search of an equalizer.

United's late equalizer and Fulham's even later winner

Hope was momentarily restored for United when Harry Maguire capitalized on a Bruno Fernandes shot, pushing the rebound past the Fulham keeper. However, in a dramatic twist during injury time, Iwobi found the back of the net following a swift Fulham counter-attack, leaving United with no time to respond. This late defeat is a significant setback for Manchester United, pushing them further away from the Champions League spots. The gap to fourth-placed Aston Villa now stands at eight points, a considerable distance with the season progressing towards its critical phase.

This match serves as a reminder of the fine margins in the Premier League and the relentless challenge teams face in securing a top-four finish. For United and Ten Hag, it's back to the drawing board as they look to rebound from this latest setback and reignite their campaign for European football next season.