Michael Carrick’s dream start to life as Manchester United interim manager continued as the Reds made it three straight wins under his stewardship with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Fulham
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The result lifted United back into the top four with goals in either half from Casemiro and Matheus Cunha putting the Reds two up before Fulham hauled themselves level late on only for Benjamin Sesko to hit a last-gasp winner.
The game was not without its controversy as United’s first came from a free kick awarded by VAR after an initial on-field decision was to give United a penalty for a foul on Cunha.
That decision angred Fulham boss Marco Silva, who was booked, and the Cottagers chief’s mood will not have brightened when Jorge Cuenca’s goal with 20 minutes remaining was chalked off for offside after another long VAR delay.
Fulham did get a goal back when Raul Jimenez scored from the spot with six minutes to play and the visitors looked to have salvaged a point when Kevin curled home a superb stoppage time equaliser. But there was still time for Benjamin Sesko to win it in the dying moments.
Welcome to Carrick time. Michael Carrick played in plenty of those sorts of games for Manchester United and now he knows what it feels like to manage one as well.
For the second week in a row, Carrick’s United reacted to a late equaliser by going up the other end and scoring an even later winner. When Kevin hit a stunning leveller for Fulham in the 91st minute at Old Trafford, United hearts sank.
They had thrown away a commanding position in the final five minutes, and players slumped to the turf. But an afternoon to forget for VAR had led to nine added minutes, and for United at their best, that is always more than enough time. To rehash a phrash we’ve heard a lot of recently, this is in their DNA. We weren’t even halfway through that time when Benjamin Sesko controlled Bruno Fernandes’ cross and arrowed a shot into the roof of the Stretford End net.
United produced a late, late show to hand Michael Carrick a third successive win as head coach, beating Fulham 3-2 at Old Trafford.
United took the lead in controversial circumstances. A penalty decision was overturned after VAR decided a holding offence on Cunha occurred outside the box, but Bruno Fernandes’ delicate free-kick was headed in by Casemiro.
Casemiro turned provider for the second, sliding a pass through for Cunha to smash a shot into the roof of the net, but Fulham got back into it when Raul Jimenez scored an 85th-minute penalty.
Kevin’s spectacular strike in injury time looked to have broken United hearts but Benjamin Sesko scored a superb winner in front of the Stretford End.
Here are how the players rated at Old Trafford
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