Championship - Tuesday 26th December 2017, 12:00 AM
Cardiff2
(0)
-
(0)
4
Fulham
Attendance: 21662
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
Match events
12
Ream
34
Ayité (f)
43
Fredericks (f)
56
Ayité
Zohore
57
Paterson
73
Hoilett
73
Healey
73
Damour
73
77
Fonte
77
Ayité
78
R Sessegnon
82
Odoi (f)
86
Kebano
86
Ojo
Ralls (f)
90
90
Piazon
90
R Sessegnon
Paterson
92
92
Bettinelli (tw)
97
Johansen
Match review
Match Report
Cardiff City (0) 2-4 (1) Fulham
Championship Match Day 24 1718 Cardiff City Stadium
Tuesday 26th December 2017 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
|
Cardiff dropped out of the Sky Bet Championship automatic promotion places after Fulham inflicted a 4-2 defeat on Neil Warnock's side.
Floyd Ayite crossed for Tim Ream to put the visitors 1-0 ahead in the first-half before he got on the scoresheet to double the lead in the second half.
A spectacular strike from returning Bluebirds striker Kenneth Zohore looked to have sparked a comeback.
But Ryan Sessegnon made sure Fulham would be the first team to win at the Cardiff City Stadium this season.
There was still time for Callum Paterson to give Cardiff hope in stoppage time, before Stefan Johansen got Fulham's fourth with virtually the final kick of the game.
The result means Warnock's men drop into third place behind Bristol City on goal difference.
Fulham felt they should have had a penalty in the fifth minute after Bruno Manga had looked to have brought down Johansen after the Norwegian burst into the box.
But referee Simon Hooper waved away strong appeals from the Cottagers' players and staff and allowed play to go on.
The breakthrough came after 12 minutes when Fulham winger Ayite swung the ball back into the penalty area after it was cleared by the Cardiff defence.
He found the head of Kevin McDonald, who flicked it on for Ream to nod in at the far post.
| Match Stats |
Cardiff
|
Fulham
|
| Goals |
(0) 2 |
4 (1) |
|
| Scorers |
Zohore 57 |
Ream 12 |
| |
Paterson 90'+2 |
Ayité 56 |
| |
- |
R Sessegnon 78 |
| |
- |
Johansen 90'+7 |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
15 |
9 |
| On target |
6 |
6 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
40% |
67% |
| Possession |
47% |
53% |
| Passes |
356 |
417 |
| Pass Success |
64% |
74% |
| Crosses |
24 |
3 |
| Crosses Success |
21% |
0% |
| Corners |
7 |
2 |
| Tackles |
20 |
19 |
| Tackles Success |
60% |
37% |
| Saves |
2 |
5 |
| Fouls |
17 |
11 |
| Offsides |
6 |
3 |
| Yellows |
1 |
4 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Joe Ralls had a low shot saved by Marcus Bettinelli, before the Fulham goalkeeper was called into action again to keep his side's 1-0 lead intact.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing crossed to the back-post for Zohore, but Bettinelli reacted to get down and push the ball away.
Tom Cairney almost made it 2-0 seven minutes into the second half when he ghosted past Loic Damour and curled a shoot inches wide of the post.
Sheyi Ojo had an opportunity of his own, before Ayite looked to have wrapped up the three points in the 56th minute.
The Togo international exchanged passes with Sessegnon down the left flank before bursting into the box and steering the ball past Neil Etheridge.
But the comeback looked to be on two minutes later when the ball sat up for Zohore to unleash a fierce left-footed volley to make it 2-1.
Cardiff pressed for the equaliser that would have kept them in the top two, but it was Fulham who struck to secure all three points.
Substitute Rui Fonte broke downfield and spread the ball to the onrushing Sessengon, who touched the ball past Sol Bamba and finished into the bottom corner.
There was still time for Lee Peltier to cross for Paterson to give Cardiff hope in stoppage time, before Johansen chipped in at the death to make it 4-2.
Cardiff: Etheridge, Peltier, Ecuele Manga, Sol Bamba, Bennett, Damour (Healey 73), Bryson, Ralls, Mendez-Laing, Zohore, Hoilett (Paterson 73)
Unused substitutes: Murphy, Halford, Feeney, Pilkington, Tomlin
Goals:
Zohore 57 (left footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by David Junior Hoilett.)
Paterson 90+2 (header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lee Peltier with a cross.)
Booked: Ralls (90,f)
Fulham Bettinelli, Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Odoi, Cairney, McDonald, Johansen, Ojo (Kebano 86), Ayité (Fonte 77), R Sessegnon (Piazon 90)
Unused substitutes: Button, Djalo, Norwood, De La Torre
Goals:
Ream 12 (header from very close range to the bottom left corner following a corner.)
Ayité 56 (left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Sessegnon.)
R Sessegnon 78 (left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Rui Fonte.)
Johansen 90+7 (left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Fredericks following a fast break.)
Booked: Ayité (34,f), Fredericks (43,f), Odoi (82,f), Bettinelli (90+2,tw)
Referee:
Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
Attendance: 21,662