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| Andy Baker at SunSport |
Fulham (1) 4 Charlton (0) 0
MARTIN JOL reckons Clint Dempsey has the 'eye of the tiger' after watching the American KO Charlton.
Dempsey hit a superb hat trick - the first of his career - before sub Damien Duff's late deflected effort glossed over what was no walk in the park.
The score was harsh on Chris Powell's men, who had Fulham on the ropes for long periods in a frantic London derby.
But Dempsey's brilliant and clinical finishing finally saw off the League One leaders to leave his Dutch boss singing his praises.
Jol said: "He is an American boy so he wants to win every training session. He has the eye of the tiger.
"The way we play now probably suits him even more. He is like an attacking No 10."
Charlton, roared on by 7,000 fans, almost took a shock lead before Dempsey's opener on eight minutes but John Arne Riise cleared Danny Hollands' header off the line.
Just moments later the 28-year-old Texan pounced on Danny Murphy's deflected pass to give Fulham the lead.
Then it was home stopper David Stockdale's turn to take centre stage, clawing away Yann Kermorgant's clever chip.Bradley Wright-Phillips wasted the chance of the game - firing straight at Stockdale when clean through - before Dempsey doubled the lead with another sublime finish from Bryan Ruiz's clever pass.
Dempsey completed his hat-trick with a spot-kick 10 minutes from time after Sullivan had upended Ruiz.
The USA international, who famously scored against England in the last World Cup, admitted he knew little about the FA Cup as a young hopeful growing up in a Texas trailer park.
Dempsey said: "We didn't have a lot of TV channels to watch European football. But I now know the cup is a chance to win something special. The more people who come over to Europe to play in this competition the more coverage it gets back in the States - so that is only going to help."
Bobby Zamora and Ruiz combined to tee up Duff for No 4, leaving brave Charlton punch-drunk but still standing proud.
Addicks midfielder Bradley Pritchard felt frozen out by his girlfriend this time last year - but she was in the stands to watch him make his bow against Fulham.
Pritchard said: "I was playing for Hayes and Yeading against my former team Tamworth. We had about 250 fans there.
"My girlfriend wouldn't come because it was too cold. She was here today!"
STAR MAN - CLINT DEMPSEY (FULHAM)
FULHAM: Stockdale 7, Kelly 6, Senderos 7, Hangeland 6, JA Riise 7, Murphy 6 (Sidwell 6), Frei 5 (Duff 7), Dempsey 9, Dembele 6 (Kasami 5), Ruiz 8, Zamora 6. Subs not used: Etheridge, Orlando Sa, Gecov, Hughes.
CHARLTON: Sullivan 7, Solly 8, Taylor 7, Morrison 7, Wiggins 6 (Evina 6), Green 7 (Wagstaff 6), Pritchard 7, Hollands 7 (Hughes 6), Jackson 6, Wright-Phillips 6, Kermorgant 7. Subs not used: Pope, Hayes, Euell, Cort.
Source .