Into the next round: Fulham will play Leeds in the fifth-round
(Picture: Getty Images)Fulham can dream of an FA Cup run this season after an eventful 3-2 win at Sunderland ensured they progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup where they’ll meet managerless Leeds United.
Sunderland’s sixth-minute goal helped them to earn a replay when these sides met at Craven Cottage 11 days ago. This time it was Fulham’s turn to score early, and on this occasion, they managed to get the job done against Tony Mowbray’s ambitious Black Cats.
Patrick Roberts’s poor defensive header allowed Carlos Vinícius to control in the box and play to Harry Wilson, who tucked into the corner of the net with the outside of his boot. Eight minutes in, Fulham led.
The Cottagers were unable to count on instruction from their manager, with Marco Silva serving a touchline ban after earning his fourth yellow card of the season in Friday’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea.
Fulham, for a while, looked like they might add to their early lead. Goalscorer Wilson nicked the ball from Roberts but his tame effort was saved. Not long after, he was wise to Dan Neil’s pass, intercepting and cantering forward but smashing wide.
As the half wore on, Sunderland rallied. Amad Diallo, the 20-year-old wide player on loan from Manchester United, began to toy with the visiting defence and his swinging shot dipped on its way toward goalkeeper Marek Rodak, who could only parry. The home side’s threat only grew and by the end of the half the Black Cats were in the ascendency.
After the interval, Neil curled just wide before Sunderland’s livewire left-winger Jack Clarke passed to Roberts who tested Rodak via a deflection.
Without doubt, the Championship side were sensing their chance to level. Diallo twisted defenders this way and that and a shot was heading in, but Republic of Ireland international Shane Duffy made the most of a rare start and instinctively cleared from off the line.
Silva, from the stands, and his first-team coach Luis Boa Morte turned to their experienced heads from the bench. On came Aleksandar Mitrovic and Andreas Pereira and within an instant the former was slotting square for the latter to tap home the second.
Sunderland never went away, never hid, and they were back in it at 2-1 when Aji Alese picked out Clarke who used Duffy’s body as a guide and then bent a gorgeous finish into the top corner.
The dying moments of the game grew frantic and Fulham managed to regain their two-goal cushion when Cairney and then Duffy both headed forward for Layvin Kurzawa to volley home with interest.
Kurzawa, however, heaped needless injury-time pressure on his side when his poor touch and slip allowed Sunderland’s 18-year-old substitute Jewison Bennette to convert for 3-2 but the Costa Rican’s goal couldn’t inspire Sunderland to snatch their leveller.
Instead, Fulham held on and they face Leeds next. Sunderland’s spirited journey comes to an end, but they certainly had Premier League opposition worried across both matches. In the end, that wasn’t enough.
