Sesko Stunner Hailed By Coach Carrick

• Manchester United beat Fulham 3 to 2 at Old Trafford after Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to score in the 94th minute.
• Michael Carrick called Sesko a “big talent” and said scoring in front of the Stretford End is “what you dream of”.
• Marco Silva said Fulham’s momentum flipped after what he called a “horrendous” refereeing decision involving John Brooks and VAR, with a penalty decision changed into a United free kick that led to a goal.

Benjamin Sesko scored a stoppage-time winner to earn Manchester United a 3-2 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford, prompting interim head coach Michael Carrick to describe the 22-year-old as a “big talent”.

Sesko has yet to start a match under Carrick and had played only nine minutes across Carrick’s first two games in charge. But he came on Sunday and scored in the 94th minute after being set up by Bruno Fernandes, taking his tally to six goals in 21 appearances since a summer move from RB Leipzig.

Carrick said: “It was a huge moment.”

He added: “We are so, so pleased ,everyone in the dressing room. The reception he got when came back in the changing room told us everything.

“He has been bright in training, he has looked dangerous. Ben is a big talent, he has so many positive things.

“And today was a huge goal. To score a winner in front of the Stretford End is what you dream of. He really deserved it.”

United had been 2 to 0 up before Fulham scored twice after the 85th minute to level the match, but Carrick said he remained confident his side would find another opening.

“I was pretty calm all the way through,” he said. “I was disappointed with the second goal, but I knew there was eight minutes to go and still positive we would find a moment.

“It is hard to hold your emotions together when a goal like that goes in, but I did feel we would have a moment.

“The excitement is part of this club, but it is not always the easiest way. We would like to win games more easily.”

Fulham’s complaints centred on a key call involving referee John Brooks. A penalty appeared to be awarded for a challenge by Jorge Cuenca on Matheus Cunha, but replays showed Cuenca won the ball. After a long review, the penalty was overturned and United were instead awarded a free kick for a shirt pull, with Casemiro heading in from Fernandes’s delivery.

Silva said: “The story of the game started with a horrendous terrible decision from John Brooks with the penalty he gave.

“Horrendous decision from that moment, big, big mistake.

“It was the first time we saw all the Premier League fans and us coaches and players. We have to take all this frustration to win the next one.

“The penalty was given by the tackle. After, because the decision was so bad, they found a different foul.

“The reason the free kick was there? My God! It was a bad, bad, bad decision.”

WRITTEN BY

Jarrod

Jarrod Partridge is the Founder of Futbol Chronicle and an accredited journalist with over 30 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, Jarrod has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing first-hand insight to every match report, player profile, and tactical analysis he writes.

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