Match Day 2 - Man Utd vs Fulham

When : 25-08-2012, Saturday

What : Manchester United vs Fulham

Where : Old Trafford

Attendance: 75,352

Referee: Kevin Friend

Result : Manchester United 3 - 2 Fulham

Scorers: Manchester United:  Robin Van Persie - 10th Minute  (Assist : Evra)

                                               Shinji Kagawa - 35th Minute (Assist: Cleverly)

                                          Rafael De Silva - 41st Minute (Assist: Young)

Fulham: Damien Duff - 3rd Minute (Assist: Ruiz)

                        Nemanja Vidic (Own Goal )- 64th Minute

Manchester United hosted Fulham at the Theatre of Dreams for their first home match of the 2012-2013 season. The fastest man on planet and a die hard Manchester United fan Usain Bolt was at OT to see the match. Having lost to Everton in their first match, United were under pressure to bounce back and make a statement of intent. Alex Ferguson's announced a starting line up that saw Robin Van Persie start his first premier league match for United. It was also the home debut for Van Persie and Kagawa. But the biggest talking point of the line up was Wayne Rooney dropping to the bench. With most of the defenders still injured, SAF had to partner Vidic with Michael Carrick in defense yet again. Rafael returned to the line up as a RB and Evra was at LB. Anderson and Cleverly were in the center of the midfield with Valencia on the right and Young on the left of the midfield. Van Persie started upfront with Kagawa playing behind him as a support striker. 

If United were looking to bounce back from the defeat then the start did not help matters.  Fulham scored a goal as early as the 3rd minute. Carrick fouled Ruiz just outside the box and conceded a free kick. Ruiz rolled the ball into the box and Duff was at the end of the pass giving Fulham a shock early lead. United then moved up a gear or two and started putting passes together. In the 10th minute a cross from Evra into the box did not look menacing untill Van Persie put his left foot through the ball for a stunning volley to put the ball in the back of the net for his first goal for the Red Devils. United kept up the momentum and hardly gave the ball away. For Fulham, Dembele put in a spirited effort, driving through United's midfield but hardly found support.

United continued to keep possession and it finally paid rewards. After moving the ball around the 18 yard box, United pressed and had a corner. Van Persie's corner was half cleared by the Fulham defense and Cleverly struck the ball from outside the 18 yard box. Schwarzer failed to hold on to the shot and kagawa was at the right place to tap the ball from two yards out for his first United goal and make it 2-1 for United. Rafael was lively and had a goal ruled out correctly for offside. But he persisted and when Young lofted the ball to the far post he headed the ball into the net to make it 3-1 for United. United were hardly worried in the half but De Gea had to react well to block a shot from Petric and divert it on to the bar.

The second half started in similar fashion with United keeping the ball and passing it around. Fulham tried to come more into the game and Dembele was again at the centre of their attack, making some brilliant runs and beating players for pace. But Fulham lacked penetration in the final third and never looked like scoring. But Fulham cam right back into the game as a result of a mistake from De Gea. As Briggs crossed into the box, De Gea came out but could not connect and the ball rolled into the net of the feet of Vidic for a bad own goal. With the lead down to one goal, there was a bit of panic in the United camp as they lost composure and Fulham attacked in search of an equalizer. SAF brought on Rooney and Wellback for Young and Kagawa as United looked to slow down things and look for a counter attack. As the final whistle drew near Fulham attacked and were almost rewarded with an equaliser only for David De Gea to deny them with a reflex save. In the last seconds of the match, David De Gea had to clear a David Ruiz header and make sure United had their first three points of the season. 

A worrying thing for United was the injury to Wayne Rooney. As Rooney tried to close down Hugo Rodallega's shot, the players boot caught Rooney on the thigh and left a severe gash. Rooney had to be stretchered off the field. 

Man Of The Match: Kagawa

Next Fixture: 

Southampton vs Manchester United 

When : 02-09-12 

Where : St. Mary's Stadium