Cunha rescues point for Man Utd at Fulham

Matheus Cunha’s deflected strike rescued a point for Manchester United late on to deny Fulham a first Premier League win of the season.

Lisandro Martinez’s bizarre own goal at Craven Cottage had looked set to condemn the visitors to a third consecutive defeat.

However, with just a minute of the 90 remaining, Cunha’s shot from 20 yards took a wicked deflection off Fulham centre-back David Affengruber, wrong-footed goalkeeper Bernd Leno and found the corner of the net.

It was particularly harsh on Leno, who had made a number of big saves as United pushed for a leveller.

Michael Carrick’s side at least avoid a third loss in a week, but head into the international break in 12th place, having taken just five points from their first five games, while Fulham are 19th on two points.

After an even start, United gradually looked to be taking control of an engaging first half with Bruno Fernandes inches away from an opener when his shot came back off the post from Cunha’s cutback.

But that scare seemed to wake Fulham up, and for the next 10 minutes it felt like a different game with the sides taking turns to pour forward and chances at both ends, Josh King and Oscar Bobb coming close for the hosts while Cunha’s long-range effort was deflected and looped over Leno before coming back off the post.

United forward Marcus Rashford volleyed a great chance over late in the half but the game stayed goalless.

After a turgid start to the second half, the game was jolted into life when United goalkeeper Senne Lammens made a mess of Calvin Bassey’s low shot before Martinez’s poor touch sent the ball into his own net with the Belgian scrambling.

From there it was all United, with Leno at full stretch to deny Bryan Mbeumo and Cunha as Alvaro Arbeloa’s side tried to cling on.

But eventually the goal, that United’s response deserved, arrived to leave both teams a little disappointed to end the day with just a point.