Argentine teenager Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench to score in stoppage time as Manchester United beat Fulham 2-1 away on Sunday.
It looked like the Cottagers had done enough in their final Premier League game to secure a point before the World Cup break.
But Garnacho’s expert one-on-one with Christian Eriksen in the final three minutes of added time saw the 18-year-old finish in the box before Bernd Leno’s cool finish.
“He’s very talented and his work rate combined with his talent makes a big difference to us off the bench,” United captain Bruno Fernandes told the BBC when asked about Garnacho.
“We are really happy with him and we know he can prove to us goals, assists and the joy of football.”
Eriksen put the visitors ahead in the 14th minute at Craven Cottage as United finished off a counter-attack with their first goal.
Former United striker Daniel James equalized just after the hour mark against Fulham, having only come on as a substitute for Harry Wilson minutes earlier.
“It was about time!” Eriksen said of his goal. “I owed a few, so I’m happy to be on the scoresheet in the last game before the World Cup.”
United finished fifth, but this win moved them three points clear of fourth-placed Tottenham as Fulham finished ninth.
Erik ten Hag’s side arrived in London without several senior players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane.
Fulham were without injured star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic but made a brilliant start at Craven Cottage, with United goalkeeper David De Gea denying Carlos Vinicius.
But it was United who broke the deadlock when Anthony Martial played in Fernandes, whose ball crossed the area to leave an unmarked Eriksen with a simple tap.
– ‘Keep fighting’ –
Fulham enjoyed plenty of possession and pressure but failed to convert anything and were almost punished when Martial headed Luke Shaw’s cross over the bar.
Eriksen also had a chance to make it 2-0 before the break but shot wide.
Early in the second half, Fulham keeper Leno denied Anthony Elanga in a one-on-one before Antonee Robinson and Tim Ream combined to prevent Marcus Rashford from scoring from the follow-on.
Missing those chances, United pulled one back in the 61st minute.
Willian’s rush down the left was well supported by the overlapping Tom Cairney, and his pass found James who slotted the substitute into the middle of the box.
A hard-nosed Fulham pushed for the winner, Joao Palhinha’s impromptu overhead kick forcing De Gea to poke home.
But it was Garnatxo, showing composure beyond his years, who had the last word.
“Words cannot describe how me and my teammates are feeling right now,” Palhinha said. “We’re really disappointed with the result because I think we deserved to win this game.”
But he added: “We will continue to fight and give our best for the whole season.
“Football is like that, sometimes the best team doesn’t win.”
AFP
