Sheffield United added another chapter to their frustrating season on Saturday, as they let a two-goal lead slip away after the 85th minute and drew Fulham 3-3 at Bramall Lane.
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The Blades (15 points) would have remained bottom of the Premier League table, win, lose or draw, but the spirited attacking performance gave the home fans a rare reason to cheer this season. With nine games left to play, Sheffield United are seven points adrift of safety. Fulham (39 points), meanwhile, remain two points behind Wolves for a place in the top half.
Fulham can’t cope with crosses, but same old story in the end for Sheffield United
Following a thoroughly uneventful first half, the game exploded to life in the second half — from 0-0 at halftime, to 3-1 after 70 minutes, to 3-3 at full-time. The Blades did all of their damage via counter-attacking and crossing, and it was largely Ben Brereton Diaz and Oliver McBurnie who torched Fulham’s penalty area for all three goals, while Fulham went for sensational strikes both near and far.
McBurnie found Brereton Diaz with a cross atop the six-yard box to open the scoring in the 58th minute, but Fulham were level by the 62nd as Joao Palhinha headed home Andreas Pereira’s corner kick, and the game was well and truly on.
Brereton Diaz turned crosser and provider in the 68th minute, finding McBurnie in virtually the same spot from which he scored just 10 minutes earlier. Two minutes later, Gustavo Hamer lifted a cross from the left wing to the back post, Brereton Diaz went up for it and got it, first with his head, then with his knee, into the back of the net.
Sheffield United looked like they were home free for just their fourth win of the season with a 3-1 lead after 85 minutes. The quality of goals scored thereafter might ease the pain a bit, or it might somehow make things worse.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid fired a laser from 25 yards to make it 3-2 in the 86th, but Rodrigo Muniz still found a way to upstage him in stoppage time. Adama Traore chipped a cross from the right side and found Muniz near the penalty spot, but the ball was high and behind the Brazilian striker. No problem for Muniz, as he flung himself in the air, twisted as he rose and wrapped his right foot around the ball above his head and stuck it in the bottom corner.
What’s next?
Matchweek 31 will arrive quickly with a midweek set of fixtures this week. Fulham will travel north to the City Ground to take on relegation-fighting Nottingham Forest on Tuesday (2:30 pm ET). Sheffield United will visit Anfield and face Liverpool on Thursday (2:30 pm ET).
Player ratings - Sheffield United vs Fulham
Sheffield United vs Fulham, final score: 3-3
Goalscorers: Ben Brereton Diaz (55'), Joao Palhinha (62', 70'), Oliver McBurnie (68'), Bobby De Cordova-Reid (86'), Rodrigo Muniz (90'+2)
55th minute - GOAL - Ben Brereton Diaz hammers home Oliver McBurnie’s cross
62nd minute - GOAL - Joao Palhinha heads home Andreas Pereira’s corner kick for 1-1
68th minute - GOAL - Oliver McBurnie slots home Ben Brereton Diaz’s cross
70th minute - GOAL - Ben Brereton Diaz finishes another cross to make it 3-1
86th minute - GOAL - Bobby De Cordova-Reid hits a screamer from 25 yards for 3-2
90th minute +2 - GOAL - Rodrigo Muniz equalizes with overhead kick in stoppage time
How to watch Sheffield United vs Fulham live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 11am ET Saturday
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Stream online: Premier League on Peacock
Sheffield United starting lineup
Grbic — Holgate, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson — Arblaster, Souza, Hamer, Bogle, Osborn — McBurnie, Brereton Diaz
Fulham starting lineup
Leno — Castagne, Adarabioyo, Bassey, Robinson — Palhinha, Lukic — Iwobi, Pereira, Willian, Muniz
Sheffield United focus, team news
OUT: John Egan (ankle), Max Lowe (ankle), Chris Basham (ankle), Daniel Jebbison (illness), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh), Rhian Brewster (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Cameron Archer (calf), Anis Ben Slimane (thigh), George Baldock (calf)
Fulham focus, team news
No injuries
