EPL: Fulham’s Nigerian duo Iwobi and Bassey combine to down Manchester United at Old Trafford

Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey played all seven games for Nigeria at the AFCON 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast as the Super Eagles took the silver medal home.

Super Eagles duo, Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi were Manchester United’s bane as they scored to give Fulham all three points at the Old Trafford, Soccernet.ng reports.

Fulham boss, Marco Silva reinstated the Nigerians into his starting eleven for the first time since their outing at the AFCON 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast.

Iwobi started on the left flank while Bassey partnered with Tosin Adarabioyo in the heart of the Fulham defence.

Iwobi, 27, missed two chances in quick succession in the early minutes of the first half. A long ball from Reed found the former Arsenal man in space, but he couldn’t hit the ball cleanly with Harry Wilson running into his path.

He was sent through on goal by Andreas Pereira minutes later, but his shot lacked real conviction as the ball rolled wide away from Andre Onana’s goal.

Five minutes past the hour mark, Calvin Bassey broke the deadlock. A corner-kick swept in by Pereira found the Nigerian in the box, and his first attempt was weak, but blocked. He hit the rebound with his right foot into the roof of Andre Onana’s post to score his first goal for Fulham and to open his Premier League account.

Harry Maguire levelled for the hosts in additonal time after a Bruno Fernandes shot was parried by Bernd Leno into the feet of the England international, but Fulham had the last laugh.

The Cottagers launched a counter attack with just seconds left on the clock, and Adama Traore made a mazy run before finding Iwobi. The 27-year-old cut onto his right foot and sent the ball into Onana’s near post to seal all three points on the road for the men in white.

Following that goal, Iwobi became the first Fulham player to score a winning goal at Old Trafford since Steed Malbranque in October 2003.

 

 

Fulham’s win over Manchester United today sees Marco Silva record his first-ever win at the Theatre of Dreams. The Portuguese has previously coached Everton and Wolves in the Premier League.