Match Report
Fulham (0) 1-1 (0) Brentford
Championship Match Day 43 1718 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 14th April 2018 KO: 17:30
Referee:
Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
|
A stoppage-time header from substitute Neal Maupay earned Brentford a 1-1 draw at local rivals Fulham to severely dent the Cottagers' automatic promotion hopes and send Wolves up in the process.
Aleksander Mitrovic looked to have won it for Fulham when he swept home in the 70th minute.
But Maupay nodded past Marcus Bettinelli in the fourth minute of time added on to secure the Bees a point and maintain their slim play-off hopes.
The draw leaves Fulham in third, a point off second-placed Cardiff, who have a game in hand.
Brentford started on the front foot. Romaine Sawyers dragged an early shot wide, before a mistake by Tim Ream saw him present the ball straight to Florian Jozefzoon who cut inside and let fly from 12 yards. Bettinelli did well to tip his drive over the crossbar.
A fine one-two between Mitrovic and Ryan Sessegnon at the other end saw the youngster tip-toe his way into the six-yard box, but his low drive was blocked by the legs of Daniel Bentley in the Brentford goal.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Brentford |
| Goals |
(0) 1 |
1 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
Mitrovic 70 |
Maupay 90+4 |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
12 |
17 |
| On target |
2 |
5 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
17% |
29% |
| Possession |
56% |
44% |
| Passes |
445 |
335 |
| Passes Success |
77% |
74% |
| Crosses |
8 |
20 |
| Crosses Success |
0% |
35% |
| Corners |
4 |
7 |
| Tackles |
8 |
10 |
| Tackles Success |
75% |
70% |
| Saves |
5 |
1 |
| Fouls |
13 |
9 |
| Offsides |
0 |
7 |
| Yellows |
1 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Another save from Bettinelli kept the scores level in the 39th minute. Jozefzoon's free-kick was met by Yoann Barbet, but his header was tipped over by the Fulham keeper.
Brentford saw strong penalty appeals turned down just before the break when Stefan Johansen jumped and blocked Barbet's free-kick with his hands.
Andreas Bjelland then saw a left-footed drive from the edge of the area fizz just wide as the Bees went close to taking a lead their first-half performance deserved.
Chances were few and far between in the second half, but Fulham went in front with 20 minutes left.
A quick breakaway saw the ball worked to Johansen on the left. He played a pass to the lurking Mitrovic and the striker, who had been kept quiet, let fly from just outside the area and saw his shot go in off the post.
Suddenly, it was all Fulham. Bentley raced off his line to block Neeskens Kebano's shot from a tight angle, before Tom Cairney let fly from 25 yards and saw his left-footed effort go just wide of the far post.
Barbet almost caught Bettinelli out at the other end when his 81st-minute cross forced the keeper to palm the ball away from near his line.
Fulham were heading back into second spot before the Bees grabbed a point with virtually the last kick of the game.
Barbet's ball was nodded back across goal by Jozefzoon and Maupay arrived to head home and spark wild scenes amongst the visiting support.
Fulham : Bettinelli, Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett, Johansen (Norwood 90), McDonald, Cairney, Piazon (Kebano 54(Christie 87)), Mitrovic, R Sessegnon
Unused substitutes: Button, Kalas, Fonte, Kamara
Goals:
Mitrovic 70 (left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Stefan Johansen.)
Booked: Fredericks (90+3,f),
Brentford: Bentley, Dalsgaard, Mepham, Bjelland (Egan 45), Barbet, Jozefzoon, Yennaris (Mokotjo 78), Woods, Sawyers, Canos (Maupay 69), O Watkins
Unused substitutes: Daniels, MacLeod, McEachran, Clarke
Goals:
Maupay 90+4 (header from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Florian Jozefzoon with a headed pass. )
Booked: Maupay (76,arg), Mepham (49,f),
Referee:
Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
Attendance: 20,877