Fulham 1 Manchester United 1
Papa Bouba Diop grabbed a sensational equaliser for Fulham to leave Manchester
United nine points adrift of Barclays Premiership leaders Chelsea on Monday night.
Alan Smith's first-half goal looked to have kept United in touch at the top
but Diop's 30-yard blockbuster earned Fulham a creditable draw at Craven
Cottage.
England international Smith took advantage of some woeful defending by Sylvain
Legwinski to slot the ball home from an acute angle and put United in control in
the opening half.
United had already thumped both uprights within the space of two minutes prior
to Smith's opener while Fulham's Andy Cole, made captain against his former
club, also hit the post in the second half.
United had far too much guile and creativity for the home side early on. The
visitors dominated the opening half even though Edwin van der Sar, still being
heavily linked with a possible move to Old Trafford during next month's transfer
window, was largely untroubled in the opening quarter.
Fulham's final ball left much to be desired and United were quick to seize the
initiative once the home side had returned possession to their visitors.
Gary Neville tried his luck from 20 yards but his shot soared into the higher
reaches of the stand instead of homing in on its intended target.
United's clever approach work was slowly, yet inevitably, creating more
opportunities for the visitors but they were stifled by Fulham's hardworking
rearguard.
In the 29th minute United almost made their possession tell with skipper Roy
Keane slamming a 20-yard shot against van der Sar's left-hand upright.
Ian Pearce blocked a shot from Ryan Giggs but the ball rolled nicely for
Irishman Keane on the edge of the penalty area.
The Fulham goalkeeper was beaten again two minutes later but this time it was
the right-hand post which came to his rescue.
United were now storming forward and Smith cleverly fed Wayne Rooney in the
left-hand channel only for the England youngster to fire a shot against the
opposite post.
One minute later, United's spell of intense pressure was finally rewarded with
the opening goal and Smith put the visitors in front.
The England international collected a low cross from Cristiano Ronaldo but
appeared to have lost his chance when failing to control the ball.
But Smith won the ball back on the edge of the six-yard back from Legwinski
and was then allowed to turn and beat Liam Rosenior before slotting the ball
home.
In the 37th minute Keane ran onto a pass from Smith and brought a fine save
from van der Sar as they searched for a second goal.
Fulham had brief moments of their own though and former United striker Cole,
making his 350th league appearance, sent a fierce angled drive across the face
of the United goal two minutes before the break.
Ronaldo almost made it two second before the break when his right-foot drive
fizzed beyond the far post.
Fulham were quick to hit back after the break and Roy Carroll was forced to
tip a header from Diop over the crossbar after Mark Pembridge had planted a
corner into the danger area.
Ronaldo, as in the first half, was being booed every time he collected the
ball. The Fulham fans were angry that Ronaldo had clearly dived in the penalty
box in the opening half in a failed attempt to win a spot-kick.
In the 51st minute, United had a lucky escape when Cole turned Rio Ferdinand
in the penalty area and sent a rising shot against Carroll's left-hand post.
Fulham's early fire was soon extinguished by United though and Smith forced a
save from van der Sar when he rose to head the ball goalwards from six yards.
The England striker almost made it two when he produced a neat turn and shot
that only just went the wrong side of the far post in the 54th minute.
A quick counter-attack by Fulham's Rosenior allowed Steed Malbranque to get in
a shot from 18 yards but it was far too inaccurate to bother Carroll.
Fulham's attacking desire made for a much more free-flowing game and that
suited their visitors who looked dangerous every time they regained possession.
The home side were now leaving enough space in midfield for United to exploit
at will. Fulham's occasional forays into the United danger area were snuffed out
by Ferdinand who was enjoying a fine game at the heart of the defence.
Giggs was now beginning to torment the Fulham defence and they could do little
but foul the Welshman as he surged forward time and again.
But Fulham saved their best until last and when Paul Scholes failed to close
down Diop, the Fulham player unleashed an unstoppable drive into the net beyond
Carroll.
Teams
Fulham Van der Sar, Rosenior, Pearce, Rehman, Bocanegra,
Malbranque (John 83), Legwinski (Radzinski 74), Pembridge,
Diop, Cole, McBride.
Subs Not Used: Flitney, Knight, Hammond.
Booked: Diop, Radzinski.
Goals: Diop 87.
Man Utd Carroll, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Heinze,
Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Smith, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Howard, Bellion, O'Shea, Fletcher, Fortune.
Booked: Silvestre.
Goals: Smith 33.
Att: 21,940
Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).
