Match Report
Fulham (1) 4-1 (1) Watford
F.A. Cup Round Three 24-25 Craven Cottage
Thursday 9th January 2025 KO: 19:45pm
Referee:
Matt Donohue (Manchester)
|
Fulham coasted into the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round at the expense of Championship side Watford, coming away 4-1 winners at the Cottage.
The Hornets briefly levelled against the run of play after Rodrigo Muniz’s opener, but second-half goals from Raúl Jiménez, Joachim Andersen and Timothy Castagne ensured a safe passage.
With temperatures barely above freezing, it took both sides a little while to warm up, although Alex Iwobi came close to converting Adama Traoré’s inviting cross at the back stick.
Iwobi then tried his luck with a low curling effort from the edge of the area, but the fingertips of goalkeeper Jonathan Bond tipped it past the post.
The away side offered little threat, coming closest on 25 minutes when a speculative half-volley from Edo Kayembe failed to trouble Steven Benda, while Joachim Andersen nipped in to stop Tom Ince getting a shot away moments later.
And it was Fulham who deservedly went ahead through Muniz, who brilliantly swept home with a first-time finish from Adama’s ball across the box.
There was almost a quickfire second when Ryan Sessegnon’s volley was blocked after Iwobi’s backheel, and Castagne’s piledriver was deflected behind when the ball came back out to the full-back.
Iwobi tried his luck for a second time as the onslaught continued, but once again there was a yellow shirt in the way of the long-range shot.
Despite most of the Cottage crowd expecting a second Fulham goal, it was Watford who scored next, as Rocco Vata blasted an unstoppable strike from all of 30 yards to supply the sucker punch and equalise.
Seconds into the second half, Iwobi brought the ball down and fed Sessegnon, whose angled strike was turned behind by a Hornets defender.
It didn't take long before Whites went ahead again though, as Adama was thrown to the ground by Antonio Tikvic, and substitute Raúl stepped up to comfortably dispatch the resulting spot-kick.
With Fulham in a ruthless mood, it took a point-blank save from Bond to prevent further damage, as Emile Smith Rowe looked to tap home after a cut-back from Raúl.
Our second-tier opponents couldn’t contain Marco’s side, and a third goal followed when captain Andreas whipped in a corner and Joachim Andersen crashed home a thunderous effort.
Jorge Cuenca headed just wide from another set piece before Andreas – wearing the captain’s armband – almost claimed goal of the night with a spectacular volley that nearly snapped the crossbar in two.
A fourth goal followed with five minutes remaining as substitute Martial Godo raced down the right and perfectly picked out Castagne to head home and round off a dominant cup display.
Fulham manager Marco Silva:
"We scored a good goal from Rodrigo, it was a good finish from him.
"He had a small issue before half-time. But it was not an easy finish and the way he did it was really good, it was a proper striker's finish in that situation, Rodrigo in the box when he strikes the ball in that way is difficult for the goalkeeper to stop.
"He felt something in his back and it was impossible for him to play the second half."
Watford head coach Tom Cleverley on Roco Vata's equaliser:
"It was fantastic. Rocco has this real knack for scoring goals and different types of goals in practice. The five and 10-yard ones from inside the box have really impressed me because he has a hunger to arrive in the box.
"He has those fantastic strikes and the burst of speed to get away from the defence, how clean the strike was really impressed me."
Fulham: Benda, Castagne, Andersen (Diop 66), Cuenca, Sessegnon, Pereira, Lukic (Reed 77), Traore, Smith Rowe (King 66), Iwobi (Godo 66), Muniz (Jimenez 45)
Unused substitutes: Leno, Bassey, Wilson, Cairney
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
West Ham |
| Goals |
(1) 4 |
1 (1) |
|
| Scorers |
Muniz 26 |
Vata 33 |
|
Jimenez pen 49 |
- |
|
Andersen 65 |
- |
|
Castagne 85 |
- |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
27 |
5 |
| On target |
8 |
2 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
30% |
40% |
| Possession |
72% |
28% |
| Passes Success |
89% |
77% |
| Corners |
13 |
0 |
| Tackles Success |
52% |
56% |
| Saves |
1 |
4 |
| Fouls |
10 |
12 |
| Offsides |
1 |
1 |
| Yellows |
1 |
1 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Goals:
Muniz 26 (right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Adama Traoré.)
Jimenez pen 49 (converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.Penalty Adama Traore draws a foul in the penalty area.)
Andersen 65 (right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner following a corner.)
Castagne 85 (header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Martial Godo with a cross.)
Yellow Card: Cuenca (38,f)
Watford: Bond, Andrews, Porteous, Ogbonna, Tikvic, Larouci, Ince (Baah 67), Dwomoh (Louza 31), Kayembe, Vata (Chakvetadze 67), Doumbia (Nabizada 89)
Unused substitutes: Sierralta,Sissoko, Bayo, Morris,Roberts
Goals:
Vata 33 ( right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Antonio Tikvic.)
Yellow Card: Kayembe (08,f)
Referee:
Matt Donohue (Manchester)
Attendance: 0
Fulham are next in action at 19.30 on Tuesday January 14th away at West Ham.