Match Report Fulham (1) 2-0 (0) Leeds United FA Cup 5th Round 22/23 at Craven Cottage Tuesday 28th February 2023    KO: 19:45 Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire) Live on BBC One

Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha

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As he watched a string of far simpler opportunities come and go for his side, new Leeds manager Javi Gracia must have cursed at the two spectacular goals that sent Fulham into the quarter-finals.

The first was outstanding, classily converted from 30 yards by Joao Palhinha, his parting gift before a two-game ban for 10 yellow cards brushing the post on its way in.

The second was from closer in but no less eye-catching, Manor Solomon, scorer off the bench in three successive appearances, showing he can do it as a starter too with a curling effort of his own after a one-two with Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Fulham’s finishing from long-range was in sharp contrast to that produced by Leeds from much nearer to the target.

They were unlucky at times and wild and wasteful at others. One late sequence as they pushed for a route back into the game contained three near misses in one frantic attack and confirmed, if there was any doubt left, that it was not their night.

Winger Manor Solomon

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Leeds now have just their relegation battle to focus on which resumes not far from Craven Cottage, at Chelsea, on Saturday.

Meanwhile Fulham, flying high in sixth in the Premier League, can also look forward to the last eight for the first time since 2010 and keep dreaming about a trip to Wembley.

Leeds thought they had taken a step towards a first quarter-final since 2003 when Georginio Rutter tapped in after Weston McKennie’s header was saved.

However referee Chris Kavanagh spotted a foul by McKennie on Harry Wilson and ruled out what would have been the Frenchman’s first Leeds goal since his club record £36m January move.

It was a generous decision in Fulham’s favour to say the least. The stunned look on the celebrating Rutter’s face when he realised said it all.

And instead, to further frustrate Leeds, Kavanagh then let a few equally soft challenges go unpunished and it was Fulham who went ahead thanks to a stunning goal from Joao Palhinha.

Match Stats	Fulham	Leeds
Goals	(1) 2	0 (0)
Scorers	Palhinha 21	-
	Solomon 56	-
Goal attempts	7	16
On target	3	6
Shooting Accuracy	43%	38%
Possession	54%	46%
Passes Success	81%	80%
Corners	4	2
Tackles Success	56%	50%
Saves	4	1
Fouls	6	9
Offsides	1	3
Yellows	0	0
Reds	0	0
source: SkySports

Tyler Adams paid the ultimate price when his pass across his own half was sharply intercepted by the alert Palhinha whose next touch was a stunning effort from 30 yards that he curled around Illan Meslier and in off the post.

Marc Roca replied with a long-ranger for Leeds but Marek Rodak was equal to it before Willy Gnonto also had a goal chalked off, this time correctly for offside.

The officials had another incident to look at when Robin Koch appeared to prevent the returning Aleksandar Mitrovic reaching a cross illegally but saw no offence.

And the half ended with Leeds on top and the luckless Rutter cleverly directing a header goalwards which came back out off the post.

They were in the ascendancy again after the break with first Gnonto and then Rutter repelled by Rodak before the latter also curled over.

So imagine Leeds’ frustration when Solomon showed them how it is done.

The winger kept the danger alive after a cross was half-cleared, drove inside, traded passes with Mitrovic and replicated Palhinha by whipping the ball around the diving Meslier.

Meanwhile the pattern of missed opportunities continued for Leeds at the other end with subs Jack Harrison and Brenden Aaronson, twice, McKennie, Koch and Crysencio Summerville among those to go close but not close enough.

Fulham: Rodak, Soares (Tete 90), Ream, Adarabioyo, Robinson, Solomon (De Cordova-Reid 81), Wilson (Willian 82), Palhinha (Reed 81), Pereira, Lukic, Mitrovic (Vinicius 69)

Unused substitutes: Duffy, Leno, Harris, Diop

Goals:
Joao Palhinha 21 (right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner.)
Manor Solomon 56 (right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Aleksandar Mitrovic.)

Leeds United: Meslier, Firpo, Ayling, Koch, Kristensen, Adams, Roca (Aaronson 74), McKennie, Summerville, Rutter (Bamford 63), Gnonto (Harrison 64)

Unused substitutes: Gyabi, Monteiro, Perkins, Robles, Gray, Joseph

Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)

Attendance: 19,359