Match Report
Fulham (1) 1-3 (1) Everton
Premiership Match Day 36 24/25 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 10th May 2025 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Darren England (Barnsley)
|
Fulham were defeated by Everton at Craven Cottage.
In a first-half that we dominated, Raúl Jiménez gave Fulham the lead with an unstoppable header, but we failed to take any further chances.
There was a degree of misfortune about Vitaliy Mykolenko’s equaliser, which took a wicked deflection on its way in.
But two Everton goals in a three-minute spell took the game away from us, as Michael Keane and Beto scored in front of the Putney End for the visitors.
Sasa Lukic’s absence saw Emile Smith Rowe earn a start, with Andreas Pereira also returning to the side after missing last weekend’s defeat at Aston Villa, replacing Antonee Robinson.
There were a couple of blocked shots at either end in the opening five minutes, with Jarrad Branthwaite and Harry Wilson seeing their respective efforts hit opposition bodies.
Pickford’s first couple of saves were relatively routine, smothering driven strikes from Wilson and Alex Iwobi.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Everton |
| Goals |
(1) 1 |
3 (1) |
|
| Scorers |
Jimenez 17 |
Mykolenko 45+3 |
|
- |
Keane 70 |
|
- |
Beto 73 |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
18 |
11 |
| On target |
6 |
7 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
33% |
63% |
| Possession |
64% |
36% |
| Passes |
544 |
310 |
| Passes Success |
86% |
78% |
| Corners |
5 |
5 |
| Tackles |
15 |
11 |
| Tackles Success |
64% |
58% |
| Saves |
4 |
5 |
| Fouls |
15 |
9 |
| Offsides |
0 |
0 |
| Yellows |
1 |
0 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
On his return to the side, Smith Rowe was the architect of the opening goal. His first touch took him away from James Garner, and his second was a delightful deft cross, which Jiménez powered home with his head to end his mini goal drought.
Wilson then swept a shot narrowly wide of Pickford’s post. Receiving the ball from Iwobi in plenty of space on the edge of the box, the Wales international couldn’t quite whip his effort first time into the bottom corner.
Jiménez led a counter-attack down the right side with eight minutes of the half to play, punishing a misplaced Mykolenko pass. The ball eventually fell to Iwobi, who was just off target as he tried to curl the ball into the top corner.
A flying Pickford denied Wilson on the stroke of half-time. The low strike was headed for the bottom corner, but Pickford shifted to his left before springing across his line to tip the ball wide.
Everton, who had barely threatened in the opening 45 minutes, came alive in stoppage-time.
Bernd Leno was alert at his near post to deny Carlos Alcaraz, but the Fulham goalkeeper was left helpless as Mykolenko’s strike from the edge of the box took a cruel deflection off the heel of Pereria and nestled into the net.
An early wave of Everton pressure arrived at the start of the second period, although it was Pickford who made the first save of the second 45, beating away a Ryan Sessegnon shot.
The England international was truly tested just two minutes later, backpedalling to his line as Wilson attempted a delicate chip over him, with the goalkeeper clawing the ball away from danger.
Dwight McNeil’s delivery for Everton’s second goal was one that was a nightmare to defend against. His corner was aimed towards the far post and Keane crept around the back to stoop a header home.
Beto put the game beyond our reach three minutes later, curling a shot beyond Leno from 18 yards.
Fulham boss Marco Silva said:
"We were the best team on the pitch. The first 30, 35 minutes was the level we want. Last 10 minutes, we started to lose some of the main things we had to be in control of the game.
"It is the story of the last three or four games. Goals have come from set-pieces. We have to be willing to fight, do our job well and we didn't. It's about concentration and focus.
"We have to blame ourselves because it didn't happen before, but it did in the last few weeks."
On dropping 28 points from winning positions: "At the same time, we got almost 20 points from being behind as well. I always prefer to be leading a game, starting the game stronger and trying to win football matches from that moment."
On European qualification: "We have to do our job. If we don't do what we should, it doesn't matter what the other clubs are going to do.
"It's much more difficult right now and we have to analyse why the last six, seven games have not been at the level that we should be at with these types of moments, late goals or set-piece goals.
"I really believe that the way we have been playing most of the time throughout the season deserves a better end and we have to work for it."
Fulham: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon (Godo 83), Pereira (Cairney 75), Berge (King 83), Wilson (Willian 75), Smith Rowe (Traore 63), Iwobi, Jimenez
Unused substitutes: Vinícius, Cuenca, Benda, Diop
Goals:
Jimenez 17 (JIMENEZ HEADS IN!
Fulham deserve that lead after their fast start!
Great work by Smith Rowe! He bursts into the area and down to the byline where he stands up a lovely cross with his left foot.
It's so inviting for Jimenez to go and attack, and he rises to power the ball home.)
Yellow Card: Berge (56,f)
Everton: Pickford, Young, Keane, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, Harrison (McNeil 61), Doucoure (Ndiaye 61), Alcaraz (Iroegbunam 84), Beto (Calvert-Lewin 91)
Unused substitutes: Patterson, Virgínia, Youssef Chermiti, Broja, Coleman
Goals:
Mykolenko 45+3 (EVERTON ARE LEVEL!
How did that go in?!
Leno punches a long throw but Doucoure collects the ball in the area.
He sets it back to tee up Mykolenko for a shot from the edge of the box that hits Pereira, wrong-foots Leno and ends up in the bottom left corner.)
Keane 70 (KEANE HEADS IN!
Everton have turned it around!
McNeil's deep corner from the right is met by Keane at the back post. He couldn't miss!
Hold on, though! VAR are checking for a foul on Leno. Alcaraz was blocking him as the corner came in. )
Beto 73 (IT'S THREE!
Two goals in a matter of minutes for Everton!
And it's a howler from Leno!
Beto gets inbehind and opens up his body to place a shot into the bottom right corner.
But the effort is too close to Leno yet he lets it through his hands and the away end goes wild again! )
Referee:
Darren England (Barnsley)
Attendance: 27,653
Fulham are next in action at 15.00 on Sunday 18th May when we visit Gtech Community Stadium to play Brentford