By
SABC Sport
24th August 2025
The away team took the lead through a Rodrigo Muniz own-goal in the 58th minute but Emile Smith Rowe ensured a share of the spoils when he equalised with his first touch after coming off the bench, on 73 minutes.
Bruno Fernandes had missed a 38th minute penalty after Calvin Bassey was adjudged to have fouled Mason Mount in the box, with the help of a Video Assistant Review.
Ruben Amorim side's had come flying out of the blocks in this game following their opening day defeat to Arsenal where they were arguably the better team.
Matheus Cunha had an early sighter that left Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno scrambling, before the same player then hit the base of the post with a shot through the legs of Bassey.
Patrick Dorgu, meanwhile, did well to latch onto a long ball down the left before cutting inside, but ultimately fired his cross into the side netting.
The away team were passing with purpose, and when the ball dropped at the feet of Fernandes on 10 minutes, he tried his luck from range and forced Leno to make the save on the stretch.
Altay Bayindir had to be alert at the other end of the pitch to deny Alex Iwobi as Fulham pressed forward, while Cunha did well to get a shot away after connecting to a good long ball from the United stopper, but Leno made an excellent one-handed stop.
Bayindir was involved again minutes later, as he struggled to deal with a Fulham corner that was ultimately cleared by his defence, after he had flapped at the cross.
With the half winding down, Mount did well to find Fernandes in the box, but his square ball across the face of the goal was cleared by Bassey, with Cunha waiting for a tap-in.
United were then awarded a penalty after Bassey's foul on Mount, but Fernandes blasted his kick high into the stands.
Fulham looked to respond and remained a threat from corners, with Bayindir missing his punch on 42 minutes, but with no Fulham close enough to make any contact, as the first half ultimately ended goalless.
Manchester United were probably the better team in the opening period, and were nearly in the lead at the start of the second half when Amad Diallo fired in on goal from a tight angle on the right side after playing a one-two with Mount, but Leno had the shot covered at his near post.
Having seen enough from his side, Amorim made two changes on 53 minutes, with Benjamin Sesko and Diogo Dalot brought on for Diallo and Casemiro.
The manager couldn't bare to watch as Fulham put pressure on Bayindir from another corner, but was soon celebrating as his side took the lead as Bryan Mbeumo swung in a corner at the other end that got a touch off Yoro before ending in the net off the back of Muniz.
There were question marks from Fulham boss Marco Silva after Yoro appeared to push Bassey in the back, but the goal was allowed to stand.
Fulham reacted to going behind with a double change as Harry Wilson and Antonee Robinson were brought on for Ryan Sessegnon and Timothy Castagne.
The changes added some much-needed spark to the home team's play and a promising break by Iwobi put pressure on the United defence before they managed to scramble the ball away.
Silva continued to tinkler and introduced Smith Rowe and Raul Jimenez for Josh King and Muniz, and Smith Rowe made an immediate impact as he levelled the score with his first touch, as he raced onto a Iwobi cross that bypassed the Arsenal defence.
Fulham were largely in control in the closing stages and the more likely of the two teams to find a winner. Kenny Tete had a great chance to set up a goal after finding himself in space on the right flank, but his cutback was poor and got stuck under the feet of Iwobi.
Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven were brought on for Luke Shaw and Yoro for the final minutes of the tie in a bid to force the result, and any contact from Maguire from a late corner would surely have settled this tie.
A draw though was probably the fairest result, although neither manager looked particularly happy at the final whistle.