Joshua Zirkzee was the hero Manchester United needed as the young striker came off the bench to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Fulham in their Premier League opener at Old Trafford. United, under the watchful eye of Erik ten Hag, struggled to break down a resolute Fulham defense throughout the match. Bruno Fernandes missed two clear chances to put United ahead in the first half, adding to the home side’s frustrations.In the second half, Ten Hag turned to his bench, calling on Zirkzee, who was eager to make an impact. The 22-year-old, who had faced fitness concerns during pre-season, did not disappoint. With just three minutes left on the clock, Zirkzee perfectly timed his run to meet Alejandro Garnacho’s cross, calmly slotting the ball into the far corner of the net. This crucial goal not only marked a dream debut for the £42 million signing but also provided the ideal start to United’s season.
While Zirkzee’s golden touch secured the win, the game also highlighted some concerns for United. Bruno Fernandes, who was deployed as a makeshift striker due to Rasmus Hojlund’s injury, failed to deliver in front of goal.His missed opportunities, including a misguided trivela shot after a mistake by Fulham’s Bernd Leno, left many questioning whether Marcus Rashford might be a better option in the central role.
Mason Mount, too, had a difficult outing. The £60 million signing from Chelsea struggled to influence the game and was substituted after an hour, following a series of misplaced passes and a yellow card for a reckless challenge. On the bright side, Noussair Mazraoui impressed on his debut, showing composure and defensive solidity at right-back, giving Ten Hag some positive takeaways from the match.
As United celebrates this narrow victory, the performance serves as a reminder that while Zirkzee’s strike delivered the win, there are still areas in the squad that require fine-tuning as the season progresses.
