Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, the dynamic duo from Nigeria, put on a show as Fulham locked horns with Manchester United in a thrilling Premier League season opener.
Alex Iwobi
Both Super Eagles stars went the full 90 minutes, displaying their strength on the grand stage of Old Trafford once again, Footballrover reports.
Iwobi put out a decent performance in the midfield, winning five duels and making three crucial tackles.
While Bassey, the defensive rock, stood tall with one tackle and three clearances, though a yellow card added a touch of drama to his performance.
Calvin Bassey
However, it was a night of heartbreak for the Cottagers in their first game of the season.
Late defeat at Old Trafford.#MUNFUL pic.twitter.com/ToeIz8aPjW
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 16, 2024
Manchester United’s new signing, Joshua Zirkzee, stole the spotlight with a late, match-winning goal.
The Dutchman’s strike had a dream debut, securing three points for the Red Devils and breaking a series of Premier League records.
15 – Joshua Zirkzee is the 15th Dutch player to score on his Premier League debut, and the fourth to do so while at @ManUtd after Ruud van Nistelrooy, Alexander Büttner and Donny van de Beek. Oranje. #MUNFUL pic.twitter.com/JDDZPenL6d
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 16, 2024
Ironically, this clash was a stark contrast to the last time these two sides met.
In that unforgettable encounter, Iwobi and Bassey were the heroes, guiding Fulham to a stunning 2-1 victory on the same ground.
Bassey’s thunderous opener and Iwobi’s last-gasp winner delivered the victory at the end.
That day, Fulham ended a 21-year drought and dealt a significant blow to Manchester United’s Champions League aspirations.
But football is a game of fine margins, and this time around, the pendulum swung in United’s favour.
Despite the valiant efforts of Iwobi and Bassey, Fulham had to settle for a disappointing setback.
22 – Following Joshua Zirkzee's winner this evening, 22 players have now scored in their first ever Premier League appearance for Man Utd, with only Chelsea (27) and Aston Villa (26) having more debutant scorers in the competition's history. Introduction. pic.twitter.com/CrkK9RxA0S
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 16, 2024
While the result was tough to swallow, there’s no doubt that these Nigerian stars will continue to be key players for Fulham this season.
“Tough game as we expected, and a good battle. I think both teams played clearly to win the game,” Fulham coach Marco Silva said after the narrow escape.
Will Iwobi and Bassey be able to bounce back from this defeat? We’ll find out next Saturday, when they face Wilfred Ndidi and his Leicester City side.
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