United hit back after Duff’s early opener

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Manchester United 3 Fulham 2

Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa scored their first goals for Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men hit back after Damien Duff’s early opener.

Rafael’s goal late in the first half left Fulham 3-1 down and with a mountain to climb, but they were given hope by Nemanja Vidic’s bizarre own goal and made sure United had to come through a nervy finish.

Fulham took advantage of some shoddy United defending to go ahead in the third minute at Old Trafford.

Bryan Ruiz rolled a free-kick in towards Duff, who was given time and space to fire past David De Gea.

United levelled when Van Persie volleyed Patrice Evra’s left-wing cross into the top corner of the net.

And Kagawa put them in front 10 minutes before the break, tapping in from two yards out after keeper Mark Schwarzer could only parry Tom Cleverley’s shot.

Worse followed for Fulham when an unmarked Rafael doubled United’s advantage by heading in Ashley Young’s cross.

Fulham were twice unfortunate not to pull a goal back – first when Duff was denied by a fine save from De Gea, and then when Mladen Petric’s drive hit the keeper’s legs and bounced onto the bar.

But luck was on their side when an aerial challenge involving De Gea, Vidic and Petric ended with the ball ricocheting into the net after hitting the defender’s heel.

And Fulham came close to completing a shock comeback, with De Gea pulling off two excellent saves to deny Moussa Dembele.

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