United, playing without Wayne Rooney because of a stomach upset controlled most of the first half and opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a Paul Scholes classic: a drive from 25 yards out which beat keeper David Stockdale convincingly. This was Scholes's 150 Premier League goal in his long and illustrious Manchester United career.
Fulham did not contribute much in the first half with their most promising play finishing with a fine double save by Edwin Van de Sar from Dickson Etuhu's shot and follow-up. However, they came back strongly in the second half, Bobby Zamora leading the line and giving Johnny Evans a torrid time. Simon Davies finally gave them the equalizer they deserved in the 57 minute off a fine cutback by Zamora.
Sir Alex then brought in Nani, Giggs and Michael Owen, which sparked off a period of dominance for Red Devils culminating in an own goal by Brede Hangeland off a Nani corner. Moments later, Duff was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty trying to clear the ball and Nani stepped up to the spot. Stockdale dive to his right and save the penalty, although it was a not a great penalty to begin with.
In the final minute of the game, up pop Hangeland to put the ball in the net and go from zero to hero in less than 5 minutes.
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