Fulham 2 - 2 Man Utd: Brede Hangeland header makes amends

United appeared to be heading for victory when Hangeland scored an unfortunate own goal with seven minutes go - the first act of a breathless climax.

Nani missed a penalty moments later that would have put Sir Alex Ferguson's side 3-1 up after Damien Duff handled in the area.

And United were punished for Nani's wastefulness in the final twist as Hangeland atoned for his blunder by powering a header past Edwin van der Sar.

A fine start from the Premier League runners-up was rewarded in the 11th minute when the influential Paul Scholes powered home a low 25-yard drive to register his 150th goal for the club.

But Fulham, who dominated lengthy spells after the interval, showed resolve to claw back the deficit with an emphatic strike from midfielder Simon Davies.

It was a thrilling way for Mark Hughes to mark his first home match as Fulham manager while Ferguson conceded his side deserved no more than a point.

Word filtered through shortly before kick-off that Ferguson would continue refusing to conduct interviews with the BBC.

Ferguson was yesterday expected to end his boycott of speaking to the corporation, which dates back to 2004, amid pressure from the Premier League and League Managers Association.

But the United manager is to maintain his stance with assistant Michael Phelan available to provide analysis and comment should the BBC request it.

Ferguson would have been delighted by United's formidable start with a dashing early run from Antonio Valencia caught the eye only for Scholes, the intended recipient of his back heel, to stumble on the ball.

Only lightening reflexes from David Stockdale kept a header from Dimitar Berbatov out but moments later the Cottagers keeper was beaten by a magnificent strike from Scholes.

The ball was sprayed around with ease from a corner until Berbatov teed up Scholes who found the bottom right corner with a powerful low drive..

In the 31st minute and only a superb double save from Van der Sar denied Fulham. Bobby Zamora used his strength to cause problems on the edge of the area and possession squirted out to Clint Dempsey, who laid on a perfect pass for Dickson Etuhu.

Etuhu directed his first shot straight at Van der Sar but was presented with a second attempt when the ball rebounded to his feet only for the Dutch keeper, who was sat down, to prod the effort over the bar with an outstretched hand.

Fulham were enjoying the lion's share of possession early in the second half. Zamora blazed a free-kick over the crossbar after he had been hacked down by Jonny Evans and the balance of power was clearly shifting with the equaliser arriving in the 57th minute.

A rampaging run from Duff swept the winger away from Patrice Era before he found Zamora, whose astute pass fell to an unmarked Davies.

Stood 10 yards out and with time to pick his spot, the Wales midfielder thumped the ball past Van der Sar.

Van der Sar caught a dangerous curler from Danny Murphy while at the other end, substitute Nani's free kick crept narrowly over the crossbar before skipper Nemanja Vidic headed wide.

With 11 minutes to go Zamora blew a fine chance, and Fulham were left ruing the opportunity as they conceded a disastrous own goal. Nani's innocuous-looking corner fell straight to the hapless Hangeland, deflecting off his shin and into the goal.

Fulham suffered another blow in the 86th minute when Duff handled the ball, but Stockdale pulled off a fine save to deny Nani from the spot.

Yet the action wasn't over. Duff floated in a corner from the right and Hangeland leapt high to nod it home, via a touch from the hand of the diving van der Sar.

Ferguson accepted Fulham were worthy of a share of the spoils. "In fairness they deserved a point," he said. "The first half belonged to us but they played better than us in the second half."

Fulham: Stockdale, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Duff, Murphy, Etuhu, Davies, Dempsey, Zamora. Subs: Zuberbuhler, Kelly, Baird, Gera, Riise, Greening, Dembele.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Vidic, Jonathan Evans, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Hernandez, Berbatov. Subs: Kuszczak, Owen, Giggs, Smalling, Carrick, Nani, Rafael Da Silva.