SUPER Eagles stars Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi were involved in major roles today as their Fulham side came from behind to draw 1-1 with Manchester United at Craven Cottage.
While Bassey committed a foul that led to a Manchester United penalty, which was missed, Iwobi set up the equalising goal for Fulham as they secured their second English Premier League draw in the first two games of the season.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was left to rue his missed first-half penalty as Emile Smith Rowe earned Fulham a point during the tight match.
Fernandes must have thought his blushes would be spared by Leny Yoro’s deflected second-half header that put United ahead after the break and officially went down as a Rodrigo Muniz own goal.
However, Smith Rowe, on as a substitute, had other ideas, pouncing on an Iwobi cross from the touchline that had bounced into the visitors’ six-yard box.
The equaliser just heightened the sense of regret at Fernandes’ failure from the spot.
The Portugal playmaker seemed the calmest man in the stadium as referee Chris Kavanagh took an age to review Bassey’s challenge on Mason Mount at a corner. It had been an incident that few seemed to complain about as play initially continued.
But Fernandes was unsettled as he collided with Kavanagh when getting ready to take the kick and, after resetting himself, sent his penalty soaring over the bar.
It was Fernandes’ first penalty miss since December 2023 and came on another day when United played well but were unable to secure their first win of the season.
In contrast, Fulham showed plenty of battling qualities as they ended a run of eight straight home defeats to United, although they too are still to get their first win of the campaign.