Joshua Zirkzee made his Manchester United debut by coming off the bench and scoring an 87th-minute goal to give his team a 1-0 victory over Fulham on the first night of the Premier League season on Friday.
The Netherlands striker used his left foot to tip in a cross from fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho at Old Trafford.
Zirkzee, who arrived from Bologna for a reputed $47 million last month, was among three offseason acquisitions to make their first outings for United, with defenders Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt.
“To win here in my first home game, and to grab a goal, it couldn’t be better,” Zirkzee told the crowd.
Zirkzee, Mazraoui, and De Ligt have arrived as part of a $180 million shopping binge by the record 20-time winners, who are under new leadership and trying to reclaim their previous glory. Erik ten Hag was retained as manager despite leading United to an eighth-place finish last season, and his team’s start to the season has been competent, if unspectacular.
With Zirkzee not entirely match sharp and Rasmus Hojlund injured, United began the season without an out-and-out striker, and it showed, with midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount squandering the best chances in a game that was petering out before Zirkzee’s late save.
Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno came to his team’s rescue, stopping twice at Fernandes’ feet in one-on-one situations before coming down fast to deny Mount from close range in the second half.
Leno had little chance with Zirkzee’s shot in front of the Stretford End, and Garnacho lost a fantastic opportunity to make it 2-0 in stoppage time when he dragged an effort wide in front of an empty net.
Mazraoui played 81 minutes as right back before being replaced by De Ligt, three days after both players arrived from Bayern Munich. Zirkzee came in 61st.