The Tanner Report: Fulham 1 Manchester United 2
There are few things more gutting – and conversely more exhilarating depending on whom you support – than the late goal.
This occurred yesterday at Craven Cottage when young Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho scored in the final minute of extra time.
Up till then Fulham had held their own and, if we had not had Alex Mitrovic missing with a broken foot, might even have scored the winner ourselves.
Nonetheless, although this was our fourth defeat to a team above by 2-1, we are a good Premiership side with enough points in the bank going into the World Cup surely to be safe.
Our hero was Joao Pahlinha who in his first season is looking like one of the best enforcers in the Premier.
His game is based on tackling and retrieval but – at 6’5” – he is also strong on the air, has scored twice and has a pass.
Fulham paid £17 million for him from Sporting Lisbon and he must be worth 5 or 6 times that now.
I watched the game on Sky.
Martin Tyler does his homework and pointed out that David De Gea defied Fulham in goal just as he had done 12 years earlier as a teenager in the Atletico Madrid side that beat Fulham in the Europa League final.
Our manager then was Roy Hodgson, who was watching from the Cottage yesterday, and it was another late goal in the final minutes of extra time that ended our European hopes and brave campaign.