Darren Bent scored a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser as the Premier League’s bottom club Fulham undermined Manchester United’s Champions League hopes in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Fulham had taken a shock lead through Steve Sidwell in the 19th minute, but quick-fire goals from Robin van Persie and Michael Carrick in the final 12 minutes appeared to have set United on course for victory.
There was one final twist in the tale, however, as deep into stoppage time David de Gea could only push a Kieran Richardson shot into the air and Bent nodded in the rebound to earn Fulham a vital point.
The draw left United nine points adrift of Liverpool, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League place, while Fulham inched to within four points of safety at the foot of the table.
Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen had seen his side eliminated by third-tier Sheffield United in the FA Cup in mid-week, but after weathering early pressure, his side took a shock lead.
As Fulham attacked down the left, Sidwell drifted into the box undetected and when Lewis Holtby picked him out with a lofted pass, the former Chelsea midfielder slid in to tuck a side-foot volley past De Gea.
United were not slow to react, Van Persie, Ashley Young and Carrick going close, but Richardson should have doubled Fulham’s lead in the 37th minute when he shot over with only De Gea to beat.
United resumed control, with Fulham goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg saving from Carrick and Nemanja Vidic before producing a stunning reflex stop to thwart Wayne Rooney early in the second half.
United manager David Moyes introduced Adnan Januzaj, Antonio Valencia and Javier Hernandez as United laid siege to the visitors’ goal and the pressure finally told in the 78th minute when Van Persie tucked in a volleyed cross from Juan Mata.
Less than two minutes later the turnaround was complete as Carrick beat Stekelenburg with a deflected shot from the edge of the box.
Moyes celebrated with scarcely disguised relief, but in the penultimate minute of stoppage time Bent scored to complete another day of despair for the champions.
United now find themselves six points behind fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur, who stole a march on Everton with a 1-0 victory over their Champions League qualification rivals at White Hart Lane.
Emmanuel Adebayor settled the game in the 65th minute, chesting down a quick free-kick from Kyle Walker and resisting the attentions of Seamus Coleman before drilling a low shot past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.
“Our game plan was to put pressure on high up the field and we didn’t do that in the first half, but second half we adjusted and had the ascendency and they didn’t open us up once,” said Spurs manager Tim Sherwood.
“Emmanuel Adebayor took his goal well. We are delighted with the result. Yes, the performance can be better, but it’s about character and grinding it out.”
Sherwood’s side now trail fourth-place Liverpool by three points, with Everton two points back in sixth place.
“In football, you want to be perfect,” said Everton manager Roberto Martinez.
“We switched off on a free kick half-way inside our half and that should never end up in the back of the net.”
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
United will stick with Moyes unless there was a catastrophe and they ended up in the bottom half of the table as an example. Ferguson is on the board, he hand picked him and he will be given time. The United squad is sub standard and hopelessly unbalanced. They have great attacking players and a decent keeper but their back line is poor. Vidic and Ferdinand are too old and the replacements are not (yet) of the same calibre as when they were in their pomp. The midfield lacks mobility and quality. Ferguson papered over many cracks and the RVP purchase was a hugely selfish one, it won him the title in his final year but the money should have been spent in other areas that would have had a longer term benefit. Where Moyes for me is failing however is in his mentality. It's like he still thinks he is managing Everton and putting out his teams with that level of expectation of performance. He was also hindered by a dreadful Summer in the transfer market, they badly need to get that right this Summer if they are to challenge again next year. One year out of the CL is not a crisis but twice and it might become problematic.
bill boomer
Guest
Moyes is doomed. I hear many compare his start to that of plumface. I'd suggest he inherited a far superior squad with recent success indeed current champions and has still been abject. moyes lol
AZ_RBB
Guest
Really hope Moyes is able to hold the dressing room til at least next season. I'm pretty confident that this squad can challenge for the top 4 next season with some decent money spent on the back 4. But he really needs to come up with something better than running down the wing and crossing it in. That's how I play fifa 14 because I don't have the football IQ or creativity to come up with anything better.