Manchester United 3-1 Fulham as Late Sesko Strike Lifts Old Trafford | OneFootball

Manchester United 3-1 Fulham as Sesko Delivers Late Drama

Manchester United returned to old habits at Old Trafford, not always comfortable, often chaotic, but ultimately decisive. A 3-1 victory over Fulham sealed a third consecutive league win and pushed United back into the Premier League top four, with Benjamin Sesko delivering the defining moment deep into stoppage time.

Before a ball was kicked, the mood around the ground was complex. A protest attended by several hundred supporters set the backdrop, a reminder that optimism on the pitch does not automatically soothe discontent off it. Yet once play began, United offered evidence of a side rediscovering belief under interim head coach Michael Carrick.

Early Control and United Authority

United appeared in command for long spells. Casemiro opened the scoring after a curious passage of play that summed up the modern Premier League. Referee John Brooks initially awarded a penalty for a foul on Matheus Cunha, only for VAR to intervene and rule the infringement outside the area. From the resulting free kick, Bruno Fernandes delivered and Casemiro headed home.

Shortly after the interval, Casemiro turned provider. His threaded pass dissected Fulham’s back line and Cunha finished emphatically. At 2-0, United looked comfortable, perhaps too comfortable, with the tempo easing and concentration dipping.

That sense of control proved fragile.

VAR Delays and Fulham Response

The game’s rhythm fractured as VAR checks multiplied. One long review ruled out a Fulham goal from Jorge Cuenca, drawing audible frustration from both sets of supporters and visible irritation from Fulham head coach Marco Silva. The delays mattered. They stretched the contest, drained focus, and kept Fulham alive.

Raul Jimenez then reignited the contest five minutes from time. After being fouled by Harry Maguire, the striker took an age over his penalty, stuttering and pausing before smashing the ball into the roof of the net. It was an exercise in nerve and defiance.

When Kevin followed with a thunderous strike into the top corner, Fulham believed they had salvaged a point. Nine minutes of added time were shown, largely due to the earlier stoppages, and Old Trafford braced itself for a familiar sinking feeling.

Sesko and an Old Trafford Finish

What followed felt deeply familiar. Late goals have long been woven into United folklore and, with Carrick on the touchline, the ending carried echoes of another era. In the dying moments, Benjamin Sesko controlled a pass from Bruno Fernandes, turned sharply inside the area and drilled a finish into the top corner.

Fulham hesitated, defenders slow to close the space, and Sesko punished them with composure that belied the moment’s pressure. The stadium erupted. United had won again.

Carrick’s achievement is striking. Ruben Amorim needed 36 Premier League matches to register three successive wins as United manager. Carrick has done it in three. The home supporters serenaded him at full time, a nod to a former player who understands the rhythms of this club.

Fulham Frustration and Missed Margins

For Fulham, the defeat will sting. They showed resilience and quality, particularly through Harry Wilson, and the contributions of Jimenez and Kevin will be remembered. Yet there remains a sense of opportunity missed. Late transfer business continues to drag and the delayed arrival of new options has left Marco Silva short when fine margins decide outcomes.

The disallowed goal and prolonged VAR checks will be debated, but Fulham also know that hesitation at the decisive moment cost them dearly.

For Manchester United, this was not polished dominance. It was something older and perhaps more familiar, resilience, late conviction, and a willingness to keep believing. In a turbulent season, that may prove just as valuable.