Man Utd 2-2 Fulham: Darren Bent Stuns Champions With Late Goal

Manchester United were held to a draw by basement side Fulham thanks to a late goal from Darren Bent. Steve Sidwell had earlier given the visitors a shock first-half lead but United fought back to go in front with quickfire goals from Robin van Persie and Michael Carrick. But the drama wasn't over and Bent would have the last say when his close ranged header on 90 minutes again reduced Old Trafford to silence. United started the game brightly but fell behind when Sidwell stabbed in Lewis Holtby's cross after 19 minutes as the bottom of the league club went in front. The Red Devils may even have been two goals down at half time when Muamer Tankovic broke with another counter attack and played in Kieran Richardson, who blazed over. United pressed for an equalizer and upped the tempo and at last threatened Maarten Stekelenburg€™s goal in the dying embers of the first half. First, Michael Carrick was denied by Stekelenburg after striking from inside the box before Robin van Persie had a shot blocked out for a corner on 38 minutes. Nemanja Vidic headed the resulting set-piece goal-bound but again found Stekelenburg in good form as Fulham closed the half out. The second half was more of the same as United continued to press for a leveller and camped inside the Fulham half, but time and again were denied by the superb Stekelenburg. Van Persie flashed a cross across the face of goal that Rooney was unable to connect with before Rooney€™s shot from deep inside the box was tipped over by the Cottagers keeper. Adnan Januzaj and Javier Hernandez were sent on by David Moyes in a bid to sharpen his attack with 20 minutes left and United's domination finally told after two quick-fire goals. First, van Persie slammed home Juan Mata's cross from close range before Carrick got the home side out of jail when his curled effort from the edge of the box deflected in off Scott Parker. It looked as though the comeback was complete but substitute Bent, who replaced Tankovic at half-time, would ultimately have the last word. Sidwell won the ball and teed up Kieran Richardson, whose rising drive was beaten away by David De Gea but only as far as Bent, who duly nodded in from five yards. The referee blew for full-time on a breathless encounter at the Theatre of Dreams and United's season suffered another nightmare here, with a top four spot quickly slipping away.