Argentina teenager Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench to score in stoppage time as Manchester United won 2-1 away to Fulham on Sunday.
It seemed the Cottagers had done enough to earn a point in the final Premier League match before the World Cup break.
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But Garnacho’s expert one-two with Christian Eriksen, in the last of three minutes of added-on time, finished with the 18-year-old racing into the box before producing a cool finish across Bernd Leno.
“He has a lot of talent and his work-rate together with the talent makes a big difference with us from the bench,” United captain Bruno Fernandes told the BBC when asked about Garnacho.
“We are really happy for him and know he can give us goals, assists and prove the joy of football.” Eriksen had put the visitors in front in the 14th minute at Craven Cottage with his first goal for United as he finished off a counter-attack.
Former United striker Daniel James equalised for Fulham just after the hour, having only come on as a substitute for Harry Wilson minutes earlier.
“About time!,” said Eriksen 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 remained fifth but this win meant they moved to within three points of fourth-placed Tottenham as Fulham stayed ninth.
Erik ten Hag’s side arrived in London without several senior players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane.
Fulham were missing injured star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic but still made a bright start at Craven Cottage, with United goalkeeper David De Gea’s early save denying Carlos Vinicius.
But it was United who broke the deadlock when Anthony Martial played in Fernandes, whose ball across the box left the unmarked Eriksen with a simple tap-in.
– ‘Keep fighting’ –
Fulham enjoyed plenty of possession and pressure but their failure to turn any of it into a goal was almost punished when Martial headed just over the bar from Luke Shaw’s cross.
Eriksen also had a chance to make it 2-0 before half-time but fired wide. Early in the second half, Fulham goalkeeper Leno denied Anthony Elanga in a one-on-one, before Antonee Robinson and Tim Ream combined to prevent Marcus Rashford scoring from the follow-up.
Having passed up those opportunities, United were pegged back in the 61st minute.
Willian’s quick run down the left was well supported by the overlapping Tom Cairney, with his pass finding James as the substitute slotted hom from the centre of the box.
An emboldened Fulham pushed for the winner, with Joao Palhinha’s improvised overhead kick forcing De Gea into a punched save.
But it was Garnacho, showing a composure belying his years, who had the final say.
“No words can explain what me and my team-mates feel in this moment,” said Palhinha. “We are really disappointed with the result because I think we deserved to win this game.” But he added: “We will keep fighting and give our best for the rest of the season.
“Football is like this, sometimes the best team doesn’t win.”
VILLA BREAK PL DROUGHT
Danny Ings scored twice as Aston Villa ended their wait for an away win in the Premier League this season with a 2-1 victory at Brighton on Sunday.
Alexis Mac Allister fired Brighton ahead inside the first minute but Villa hit back, Ings equalising with a first-half penalty before his deflected strike early in the second period did for the Seagulls, who were denied a late penalty by VAR.
Victory meant Villa, who have now won both their league matches since Unai Emery replaced the sacked Steven Gerrard as manager, moved up to 12th in the table ahead of the World Cup break.
“As a team we were excellent today,” Ings told Sky Sports. “Our grit and determination got us over the line.
Turning to Emery’s influence, he added: “He’s only been with us a short time but we’ve come a long way already. We’ll have a break now and try to implement as much as he wants to install with us.” Mac Allister, one of several players on show heading to Qatar for the World Cup, celebrated his Argentina call-up with a goal after 49 seconds against compatriot Emi Martinez.
Villa goalkeeper Martinez played himself into trouble with a short pass to Douglas Luiz, the Brazilian then brushed aside by Mac Allister, who fired in his fifth goal of the season.
But the Midlands club responded well and were deservedly level in the 20th minute.
Emi Buendia’s through ball allowed John McGinn to race onto with Lewis Dunk bringing down the Scotland captain inside the area.
Ings scored from the spot despite Robert Sanchez getting a hand to his penalty kick.
Brighton’s Pascal Gross almost embarrassed Martinez with an inswinging delivery from a corner.
The Seagulls’ Leandro Trossard found the net five minutes into the second half but his long-range strike did not count after referee Chris Kavanagh had already blown for a foul on Villa’s Matty Cash.
In an open game, Buendia’s header from a Cash cross then hit the post before Villa went ahead in the 54th minute.
Luiz won possession from Mac Allister outside Brighton’s penalty aread and Ings went past a rash Dunk tackle before his effort beat Sanchez following a deflection off Colwill.
Brighton appealed for a penalty when Villa defender Lucas Digne caught home winger Solly March but, despite a VAR check, no spot-kick ensued.
That added to the frustration of Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi, who was booked for repeatedly protesting about Villa’s time-wasting in a match featuring eight minutes of stoppage time.
Despite the defeat, Brighton remained seventh but an annoyed De Zerbi told the BBC: “I think we speak always about fair play in the Premier League. I didn’t see (that) today.
“It’s the work of the referee, not my work (to deal with time-wasting). My job is to train my players and prepare them for the game.”
