Fulham and Manchester United shared a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage on Sunday, 20 September 2026, as Matheus Cunha’s late deflected strike rescued a point for Michael Carrick’s side heading into the international break.
United arrived under pressure after a derby defeat by Manchester City and a midweek Carabao Cup exit to Brighton, both at Old Trafford. Fulham, under Álvaro Arbeloa and starting the day at the foot of the table, were the sharper side for long stretches and looked set for a first Premier League win of the Arbeloa era.
Martínez own goal, then Cunha’s break
The opener arrived in the 63rd minute as a mess at the back. Calvin Bassey’s shot was only half-dealt with by goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Lisandro Martínez jabbed at the loose ball and turned it into his own net. Fulham sat deeper after the goal and invited pressure, but United’s second-half play stayed slow and predictable, with most efforts coming from outside the box.
In the 89th minute Cunha took on a shot from the edge of the area, left of centre. Bernd Leno looked to have the near corner covered until the ball clipped David Affengruber and spun into the opposite corner. It was Cunha’s first Premier League goal of the season, and it stopped United from leaving south-west London empty-handed.
Five points into the break
United go into the international break on five points, their joint-lowest tally after five Premier League games, matching the 2014-15 start. Tottenham sit bottom. Carrick told BBC Sport his side had done enough to win and that small moments had been going against them; Cunha said Leno had been “unbelievable” and that the equaliser needed a touch of luck.
