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Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United celebrates scoring his staff’s first objective in the course of the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Fulham FC at Previous Trafford on August 16, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photograph by Michael Regan/Getty Photographs)
| Photograph Credit score: Getty Photographs
Joshua Zirkzee marked his debut for Manchester United by coming off the bench and scoring an 87th-minute objective to provide his staff a 1-0 victory over Fulham on the opening evening of the Premier League season on Friday (August 16, 2024).
The Netherlands striker poked out his left foot to information residence a cross by fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho at Previous Trafford.
Zirkzee, who joined from Bologna for a reported $47 million final month, was certainly one of three offseason signings to make their first appearances for United, together with defenders Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt.
“To win right here in my first residence recreation, and to seize a objective, it couldn’t be higher,” Zirkzee mentioned.
Zirkzee, Mazraoui and De Ligt have arrived as a part of a $180 million spending spree by the document 20-time champions, a membership underneath new management and trying to return to its former glories. Erik ten Hag was retained as supervisor regardless of guiding United to an eighth-place end final season and this was a stable, if unspectacular, begin to the marketing campaign by his staff.
“It’s simply the primary recreation, however it’s good to strengthen the idea and confidence within the staff,” Ten Hag mentioned. “I’ve seen the locations the place we have to enhance. However that’s regular within the first recreation of the season.”
With Zirkzee not totally match sharp and Rasmus Hojlund injured, United began the season with out an out-and-out striker on the sector and it confirmed, with midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount losing one of the best alternatives in a recreation that was really fizzling out earlier than Zirkzee’s late intervention.
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Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno got here to his staff’s rescue, saving twice on the toes of Fernandes in one-on-one possibilities then getting down sharply to disclaim Mount from shut vary within the second half.
Leno had no likelihood with Zirkzee’s shot in entrance of the Stretford Finish, nevertheless, and Garnacho squandered an important likelihood to make it 2-0 in stoppage time when he dragged a shot broad in entrance of an empty objective.
“That’s the one criticism I’ve of the staff,” Ten Hag mentioned. “To kill. Kill within the field.”
Mazraoui performed 81 minutes at proper again – and was certainly one of United’s higher gamers, together with Casemiro – earlier than being changed by De Ligt, three days after they each joined from Bayern Munich. Zirkzee entered within the 61st.
On Saturday (August 17, 2024), there are six extra video games within the league’s first spherical, together with Liverpool – underneath a brand new supervisor in Arne Slot – at promoted Ipswich and Arsenal – the runner-up within the final two seasons – internet hosting Wolverhampton.
Reigning champion Manchester Metropolis begins its title defence at Chelsea on Sunday (August 18, 2024).
