It was a Nigerian show at Old Trafford on Saturday as the duo Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi scored to help Fulham secure their first ever Premier League win over Manchester United in 21 years.
The pair were making their first start for the Cottagers after playing for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Bassey gave Fulham the lead in the 65th minute of the game against the run of play when he lashed home a loose ball after his header from a corner was blocked by team-mate Timothy Castagne.
The goal was his first in two years and the defender’s maiden strike for the club in 19 games across all competitions since he joined from Ajax last summer for £19.3m on a four-year deal.
Without injured strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Anthony Martial, the hosts were ineffective in attack until the final minute of normal time, when Harry Maguire looked to have rescued a point for the Red Devils with a close-range finish in the 89th minute.
But more drama unfolded in stoppage time as Fulham handed Manchester United a harsh reality check at Old Trafford with Iwobi scoring a dramatic 97th-minute winner to hand Marco Silva’s side their second Old Trafford victory since 1963.
The goal was Iwobi fourth league so far this season in 18 appearances.
The win ended Manchester United’s perfect run of results in February and further puts a dent in their top-four hopes, as they remain sixth and have slipped eight points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.
While for Fulham, it halts a winless 11-game run away on the road, although they remain 12th in the Premier League table, three points behind the top 10.
Speaking after the game, Fulham matchwinner Iwobi who had earlier squandered two good scoring chances in the encounter said he is over the moon scoring his second goal against the Red Devils in 16 games.
He is the first Fulham player to score a winning goal at Old Trafford since Steed Malbranque in October 2003.
“I’m over the moon right now to come back into the team and get the win here – there is no better feeling,” the Nigerian midfielder said after the game.
Credit: punchng.com
