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Tom Prentki at Daily Telegraph |
Fulham (1) 4-1 (0) Hull City FAC Rnd04
Fulham booked their place in the fifth round for the ninth time in 10 years after another eye-catching performance from 16-year-old Ryan Sessegnon helped them inflict a heavy defeat on Marco Silva’s Hull City.
The right-back, born in May 2000 and linked with a host of top clubs, created one goal and scored another to help Slavisa Jokanovic’s side create what can best be termed a ‘mild upset’.
Hull would not have beaten any team defending as they did here but that should not detract from Fulham’s slick, inventive approach in front of a sparsely-populated Craven Cottage.
The game’s first chance of the game brought a goal for Fulham as Tomas Kalas rose to head Stefan Johansen’s free-kick back across goal and Sone Aluko volleyed into the net.
Fulham edged an entertaining first half and had further chances to score. Sessegnon thought he had done so as he slid the ball under Eldin Jakupovic, but he was adjudged to be offside.
Before that, Aluko, who was tormenting his former employers, beat four Hull defenders before shooting wide from a narrow angle.
But Hull had their chances. Adama Diomande fired narrowly wide to the right of goal before Abel Hernandez smashed a shot which stung Marcus Bettinelli’s palms.
With the Tigers finishing the half strongly, Hernandez was prevented from scoring by Kalas’s brilliantly-timed sliding block on the edge of the six-yard area.
Four minutes after half-time, Silva’s side were level. It was a first goal for new signing Goebel Evandro, who has joined from FC Porto, and he stooped to head his new side back into the game following Andrew Robertson’s deep cross.
There were only level for five minutes as want-away striker Chris Martin, who was booed with each touch by the home support, slid the ball into an empty net after Aluko’s excellent pass had found Sessegnon, who in turn fed Martin.
Martin was clearly unaffected by his hostile reception and had a hand in Fulham’s third goal which effectively ended the tie. By the time he was subbed, the fans were applauding him off.
More slick passing saw Lucas Piazon feed Martin whose one-touch pass found the on-rushing Sessegnon to beat Jakupovic from close range.
It got better for the Cottagers as Johansen added a fourth, after more good work from Martin and Tom Cairney created the chance amid little Hull resistance.
Cairney almost crowned an excellent team performance with a goal of his own but Jakupovic was just able to push his curling drive around the post.
A lazy tackle from Kalas gave Hernandez the chance to score from the penalty spot. His tame effort was saved by Bettinelli who then fouled Hernandez as he attempted to convert the rebound.
Paul Tierney rightly gave Hull, and Hernandez, another chance. This time, the Hull striker smashed towards the top corner and Bettinelli saved brilliantly as the game ended amid calamitous scenes which summed up Hull’s afternoon and much of their season.
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