Fulham’s preseason campaign ended in victory, defeating Hoffenheim 2-0 in Germany in front of a crowd of more than 9,000.
Alex Iwobi was the creator of both goals, laying on pristine passes for Emile Smith Rowe and Adama Traore in either half.
After a quiet start to the game, Fulham opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a moment of real quality. Iwobi spotted the forward run of his teammate and chipped a perfect ball into his path, with Smith Rowe squeezing his shot between the legs of goalkeeper Oliver Baumann from a tight angle.
It had been a quiet first half for Bernd Leno – wearing the Captain’s armband in his homeland – but he was called upon to make routine saves from Andrej Kramaric and Anton Stach either side of Smith Rowe’s opener.
The second half began with more urgency – Smith Rowe and Iwobi combining neatly to tee up the latter for a shot with was parried by Baumann, with Rodrigo Muniz firing the rebound over on the swivel.
At the other end, Pavel Kaderabek caught a volley sweetly from an acute angle, but Leno got down well to push it behind his near post.
Adama had enjoyed some promising moments in pre-season and went close to doubling the lead in the 59th minute, taking one touch from Andreas’ pass to burst beyond his man, and drawing a fine fingertip stop from Baumann with his low shot.
Leno showed some good agility of his own seconds later, when a high cross came off Antonee Robinson and threatened to trickle in until the Fulham number one’s intervention.
Iwobi was at his creative best again for the second goal of the afternoon, driving forward before curling over a sublime diagonal pass for Adama to run onto. The winger showed good strength to hold off his man, and then the composure to pop the ball beyond the onrushing Baumann.
A couple of minutes later Sasa Lukic took aim from the edge of the box, with Baumann beating away his powerful strike.
Leno had been equal to everything Hoffenheim had thrown at him, but his best save was yet to come, readjusting his body fantastically to repel Marius Bülter’s vicious strike with his legs.
In the closing stages, substitute Jorge Cuenca had two bites of the cherry at a corner. First seeing his header blocked, before having his snapshot deflect wide.
Another highly productive runout ahead of the season opener at Old Trafford next Friday.
Fulham FC line up: : Leno; Tete (Castagne 81'), Diop (Cuenca 81'), Bassey, Robinson (Esenga 89'); Luki, Andreas, (King 89') Smith Rowe (Cairney 81'); Adama (Godo 89'), Muniz (Raul 81'), Iwobi
Unused subs:Benda, Borto, De Fougerolles, Araujo, Sessegnon, Reed, Pajaziti, Wilson, Stansfield