Emile Smith Rowe earned fighting Fulham a point with his very first touch as Ruben Amorim was frustrated in his search for lift off to Manchester United’s season at Craven Cottage. The Whites’ record signing endured a difficult first campaign at Craven Cottage but made an instant impact after coming off the bench to cancel out Lenny Yoro’s controversial header and secure a second successive draw for Marco Silva’s side. United, beaten by Arsenal on the opening weekend, failed to put Fulham away – with Bruno Fernandes ballooning a generous first-half spot-kick – and were left to pay the penalty.

Silva sprung a tactical surprise in matching up with the visitors’ 3-4-3 formation. This saw Ryan Sessegnon return at left wing-back and Timothy Castagne on the opposite side – replacing Harry Wilson – with Kenny Tete operating as a third centre half. The system switch largely nullified United’s new-look forward line, even if Matheus Cunha struck the base of the post, but Fulham were limited in the final third, with the recalled Rodrigo Muniz barely getting a sniff of goal and Josh King not as influential as he was at Brighton.

Bernd Leno batted away a dipping drive from Fernandes as the visitors made most of the early running, but Fulham fought for a foothold and their first chance saw two Motspur Park academy boys link up on the left as Sessegnon slipped in King only for the advancing Altay Bayindir to block the teenager’s shot with his feet. Leno then bailed his team-mates out with a splendid save to keep out Cunha after the former Wolves number ten surged onto a long ball from Bayindir. The Turkish goalkeeper then did well to claw away an Alex Iwobi effort after United half cleared a corner.

It wasn’t long before Chris Kavanagh, a curious appointment, took centre stage. He was sent to the pitchside monitor to review a potential foul by Calvin Bassey on Mason Mount, who appeared to initiate the contact at the far post from a corner. The officials overlooked Luke Shaw’s robust challenge on Muniz, but after a lengthy review, Kavanagh pointed to the spot. Fernandes and Leno played mind games before the spot-kick, but the Portuguese midfielder skied his effort high into the Hammersmith End.

Fulham finished the first half with a flourish but Muniz failed to finish at the far post before Castagne cracked a shot towards goal, only for Matthijs de Light to throw himself in the way. The superb Sasa Lukic, industrious in the engine room as ever, delivered better corners than Andreas Pereira, who watched from the Cottage balcony, but the Hammersmith End was enraptured by the presence in a Hammersmith End hospitality box by Joao Palhinha, who would have appreciated the Serbian’s all-action display.

Leno kept Fulham in it with a smart save at his near post to deny Amad Diallo, but was beaten by Yoro’s header from a corner that looped in off the luckless Muniz. There was no detailed examination by VAR this time, despite the defender planting his hands in Bassey’s back. Benjamin Sesko got the longest runout of his brief United career to date, but the away side didn’t give their big money signing the service to strike. Silva sent on for Smith Rowe for the fading King and introduced Jimenez in place of Muniz. The change paid dividends within two minutes; Smith Rowe taking to the air to touch a terrific cross from Iwobi after some marvellous movement.

That set up a frantic finale where both sides pushed for a winner with substitute Harry Maguire sending a free header wide from a late corner, but this time the Red Devils had to settle for a share of the spoils.

FULHAM (3-4-2-1): Leno; Andersen, Bassey, Tete; Castagne (Wilson 62), R. Sessegnon (A. Robinson 62), Lukic, Berge; Iwobi, King (Smith Rowe 71); Muniz (Jimenez 71). Subs (not used): Lecomte, Cuenca, Reed, Traore.

BOOKED: Lukic.

GOAL: Smith Rowe (73).

MANCHESTER UNITED (3-4-3): Bayindir; Yoro (Heaven 87), de Ligt, Shaw (Maguire 87); Dorgu, Diallo (Dalot 52), Casemiro (Sesko 53), Mbeumo; Mbuemo, Cunha, Mount (Ugarte 69). Subs (not used): Onana, Fredricson, Mainoo, Zirkzee.

BOOKED: Casemiro.

GOAL: Yoro (58).

REFEREE: Chris Kavanagh (Greater Manchester).