A deflected shot from Matheus Cunha earned Manchester United a late point, preventing Fulham from claiming their first Premier League victory of the season.
An odd own goal by Lisandro Martinez at Craven Cottage had seemed destined to send the visitors to a third straight loss.
Yet with only a minute of the 90 left, Cunha’s strike from 20 yards clipped Fulham centre-back David Affengruber, leaving goalkeeper Bernd Leno wrongfooted as the ball nestled in the corner.
It felt especially tough on Leno, who had produced several important saves while United pressed for an equaliser.
Michael Carrick’s team at least steer clear of a third defeat in a week. They go into the international break sitting 12th with only five points from their opening five matches, while Fulham lie 19th on two points.
Following a balanced opening, United slowly appeared to seize control of an entertaining first half, with Bruno Fernandes coming within inches of scoring when his shot from Cunha’s cutback struck the post.
That near miss, however, seemed to spark Fulham. For the next 10 minutes the match felt transformed as both sides traded attacks, with Josh King and Oscar Bobb going close for the hosts while Cunha’s long-range attempt deflected and looped over Leno before hitting the post.
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United forward Marcus Rashford blazed a fine chance over late in the half, but the score remained goalless.
After a sluggish beginning to the second half, the match burst into life when United goalkeeper Senne Lammens mishandled Calvin Bassey’s low shot and then Martinez’s poor touch put the ball into his own net as the Belgian scrambled.
From that point it was all United, with Leno stretching fully to keep out Bryan Mbeumo and Cunha as Alvaro Arbeloa’s men tried to hold on.
Eventually, though, the goal that United’s fightback merited arrived, leaving both teams somewhat disappointed to finish the day with only a point.
