Match Report
Fulham (1) 2-2 (0) Bournemouth
Premiership Match Day 19 24/25 at Craven Cottage
Sunday 29th December 2024 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Robert Jones (Wirral)
|
Fulham ended 2024 with an entertaining 2-2 draw against AFC Bournemouth at Craven Cottage.
The visitors came back twice as goals from Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson were cancelled out by Evanilson and a late suckerpunch from Dango Ouattara.
There was an early scare as a loose backpass from Jimenez left Bernd Leno in a spot of bother, with Evanilson taking the ball around our shot-stopper, but Leno recovered to deny the Bournemouth striker with an outstretched arm.
The game sparked into life on 10 minutes, with a rasping David Brooks shot from the edge of the area forcing Leno into a diving save, before Kepa made a routine stop to keep out Wilson at the other end.
Wilson – one of the heroes of Boxing Day’s derby win at Chelsea – then tried his luck on his weaker right foot, with Kepa gratefully pouncing on his shot.
The early chances kept coming as Leno stood strong to palm away Evanilson’s stinging effort from a tight angle after the forward had made a clever darting run behind the Fulham backline.
Leno’s best save of the lot came on the half hour mark, rushing out to make a big stop from Semenyo, who chose to go with power rather than placement when one-on-one with the Whites goalkeeper.
The opening goal arrived five minutes before the interval as Jimenez rose highest from an Andreas Pereira corner, with his header nestling into the bottom corner beyond Kepa.
It was almost a dream ending to the first period as Alex Iwobi tried to pick out the top corner from range, but there wasn’t quite enough dip on his dangerous strike.
Having been denied by a smart stop earlier in the game, Evanilson got the better of Leno five minutes into the second period.
The striker finished emphatically after getting on the end of a perfectly weighted clipped pass by James Hill.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Bournemouth |
| Goals |
(1) 2 |
0 (2) |
|
| Scorers |
Jimenez 40 |
Evanilson 51 |
|
Wilson 72 |
Ouattara 89 |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
6 |
9 |
| On target |
11 |
16 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
| 56% |
| Possession |
52% |
48% |
| Passes |
479 |
437 |
| Passes Success |
79% |
79% |
| Corners |
1 |
7 |
| Tackles |
24 |
11 |
| Tackles Success |
58% |
73% |
| Saves |
6 |
4 |
| Fouls |
7 |
16 |
| Offsides |
0 |
0 |
| Yellows |
1 |
3 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Silva’s side were looking for an immediate response and nearly got one as Illia Zabarnyi blocked Wilson's goalbound shot, before Kepa sprung to his left to save Timothy Castagne’s well-struck volley.
A chaotic 60 seconds unfolded midway through the half as Jimenez was denied a second goal on two occasions, first by a stunning Kepa save and then from a Dean Huijsen block.
A long ball up the other end sent Evanilson through, but Leno rushed out the stop the striker as he closed in on goal.
Wilson, who is making quite the habit out of scoring important goals this season, bagged his second in four days, nodding home Antonee Robinson’s cross from the left.
The Welshman was inches away from extending the lead but he couldn't reach Castagne's fizzed ball across the box.
But there was to be late drama as the visitors equalised in the 89th minute as substitute Ouattara calmly chipped the ball over Leno to deny Fulham the three points.
Fulham boss Marco Silva:
"It a tough one to take in a difficult game, as we knew it would take a lot of energy as they make the game aggressive and we had to be able to deal with it.
The first half was more difficult for us to set our game but it was balanced and a set piece made the difference up to that point.
"Our best moment was after we made it 2-1 and I felt the impact of Tom Cairney was big. We settled our game and our possession was better.
It was closer then to 3-1 than 2-2 but at the end of the game we had to be more ruthless.
We were punished from a moment where we made a mistake. The ball wasn't precise and they punished us.
"I think of West Ham, away at Everton, and this afternoon, the way we have conceded in those games, yes I expect us to learn from these moments and to be more ruthless.
We like to play with risk, but I expect us to be more mature and we have the experience to read the game and manage the game in a different way.
We weren't being pushed back, the game was in our control so there are no reasons for us to drop points like this.
All the details make an impact."
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Diop, Andersen, Bassey, Wilson (Traore 78), Pereira (Cairney 68), Lukic (King 92), Iwobi (Smith Rowe 92), Robinson, Jimenez (Muniz 68)
Unused substitutes: Vinicius, Cuenca, Benda, Sessegnon
Goals:
Jimenez 40 (GOAL FOR FULHAM!
And it is as simple as you like. The outswinger from Pereira is right on the money as Raul Jimenez escapes his marker Kerkez to glance his header across Kepa and into the far corner.
Straight off the training ground.
FPL assist: Andreas Pereira)
Wilson 72 (FULHAM BACK IN FRONT!
They are made of such strong stuff this season, Fulham. Iwobi brings in Antonee Robinson down the left - the league's best left-back this season - and his delivery is superb, met by the rising Harry Wilson to direct his header beyond the stranded Kepa.
FPL assist: Antonee Robinson.)
Booked: Andersen (84,f),
Bournemouth : Kepa, Hill (Aarons 82), Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Christie, Cook, Brooks (Ouattara 63), Billing (Unal 73), Semenyo, Evanilson (Winterburn 82)
Unused substitutes: Dennis, Travers, Kinsey, Harris, Rees-Dottin
Goals:
Evanilson 51 (WHAT A LOVELY GOAL!
This boy is a player. Hill executes the perfect lofted pass around the side of Andersen for the ghosting Evanilson to swivel and arrow his shot high into the net above Leno.
Bournemouth level and it's the least they deserve.
FPL assist: James Hill.)
Ouattara 89 (BOURNEMOUTH HAVE A SECOND EQUALISER!!
You simply cannot rule out this Bournemouth side and just when you thought Fulham were looking good to hold on, it's another goal from a substitute!
Leno's clearance is poor as Semenyo is quickly swept onto the ball by Unal. He cuts inside and tries to have a shot himself as he collides with Diop.
It squirts free for Dango Ouattara and his deft finish over Leno is exquisite.
FPL assist: Antoine Semenyo.)
Booked: Billing (39,f), Christie (43,f), Ünal (82,f)
Referee:
Robert Jones (Wirral)
Attendance: 0
Fulham are next in action at 14:00 on Sunday 5th January when Ipswich
Town come visiting.