Match Report
Fulham (0) 2-0 (0) Tottenham Hotspur
Premiership Match Day 29 22/23 at Craven Cottage
Sunday 16th March 2025 KO: 13:30
Referee:
Andy Madley (West Yorkshire)
|
Fulham favourite Ryan Sessegnon struck a stunner against his former club as Fulham boosted their hopes of European qualification with a 2-0 win over toothless Tottenham at Craven Cottage to move up to eighth in the Premier League.
Sessegnon had netted his first goal since October 2022 against Wolves last month and added another in fine fashion here just a minute after coming on to seal this win, outmuscling Ben Davies before bending the ball into the far corner. It was particularly galling for Tottenham, as it came just moments after Lucas Bergvall was denied a penalty despite Calvin Bassey's rough challenge.
Rodrigo Muniz, another substitute, had put Fulham ahead 10 minutes earlier with an accurate finish into the bottom corner after a sharp touch and pass from Andreas Pereira and those goals gave Marco Silva cause for celebration in his 200th Premier League game as a manager.
The Whites had dominated the first half without carving out a clear opening but came through a step-up from Spurs in the second half to clinch the three points. They are now just three points off fifth-placed Man City. The race for Europe is tighter than ever - and Fulham are in it.
It was the introduction of two subs that proved the catalyst, with Muniz breaking the deadlock with a pristine pass into the corner of the net.
We’ve had some incredible moments at home this season, but you’ll go far to top Sessegnon’s first goal back at the Cottage, and it was some finish to wrap up the points, an absolute rocket into the postage stamp on his supposedly weaker foot.
Marco Silva reverted to four at the back for this one, meaning there was another attacking spot available which was taken by Willian, for his third full Club debut. Issa Diop was the man who dropped out.
After an opening quarter of the match that had tempo but lacked goalmouth action, Fulham wanted a penalty when two hands in the back from Djed Spence prevented Raul Jimenez from connecting with Alex Iwobi’s peachy cross, but the referee saw no infringement.
The Whites were doing most of the attacking, albeit without testing Guglielmo Vicario, though the Spurs goalkeeper will have been glad to see Cristian Romero get a last ditch touch to divert Antonee Robinson’s cross away from Raul who was galloping to meet it six yards out.
We did then witness a first shot on target of the afternoon when Ben Davies cleared straight to Timothy Castagne, whose first time effort was saved low by Vicario.
With five minutes to play of the half, the boys put together a sublime move. Willian spotted the smart run of Emile Smith Rowe who clipped the ball into Raul. He brought it down beautifully to present a sight of goal to Iwobi, whose shot was blocked.
Joachim Andersen then had a header from a corner diverted away from goal as Fulham continued to end the half strong.
Spurs had mustered just one attempt in the first half, but they trebled their tally within 10 minutes of the restart, with Dominic Solanke sending headers wide of either post.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Tottenham |
| Goals |
(0) 2 |
0 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
Muniz 78 |
- |
|
Sessegnon 88 |
- |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
13 |
12 |
| On target |
4 |
4 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
31% |
33% |
| Possession |
57% |
43% |
| Passes |
522 |
401 |
| Passes Success |
85% |
86% |
| Corners |
6 |
5 |
| Tackles |
30 |
24 |
| Tackles Success |
60% |
54% |
| Saves |
4 |
2 |
| Fouls |
13 |
10 |
| Offsides |
1 |
1 |
| Yellows |
0 |
0 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
The visitors had been much better in the second half and should have opened the scoring midway through it. Bernd Leno palmed Mathys Tels’ 20 yarder away but substitute James Maddison was able to chest the ball straight into the path of Solanke, who somehow scooped it over.
As we entered the final quarter of an hour, Willian bent a gorgeous curling effort agonisingly wide of the far stick from range, after Vicario was called into action to punch away a wicked Andreas delivery following a turnover in possession.
Andreas had been trying to find Muniz with that cross, but the pair did successfully combine moments later to break the deadlock. Following good pressing from Willian and Robinson on the left, the latter dinked a cross into Andreas who laid off for his compatriot to squeeze a pinpoint low strike beyond the reach of Vicario and inside the post.
With a couple of minutes to play, Sessegnon was brought on for Willian, and he needed mere seconds to settle the contest.
Running onto a long ball, he grappled with Ben Davies, who did his utmost to foul his former teammate, on the edge of the box, but showed incredible strength to maintain his footing before firing a rocket into the top corner with his right foot.
His celebrations were muted out of respect for his ex-club, but the same could not be said for an ecstatic Hammy End, who could not have been happier for one of their favourite sons.
Muniz then drew a save from Vicario as Fulham tried to add even more gloss to the scoreline.
Solanke thought he’d grabbed a consolation in stoppage time with a good angled finish, but Leno showed remarkable agility to get down and maintain the clean sheet, ensuring there were no blemishes on a fine afternoon by the Thames as Fulham moved up to eighth in the Premier League.
Fulham boss Marco Silva:
"Tottenham started well in the second half and we needed a reaction. First half we were able to beat the pressure. In the first half we deserved more from the game, there were not many clear-cut chances for both sides. The impact from the bench was really good. We were the better team on the pitch."
On Sessegnon's goal: "It was emotional. The injuries, sometimes that can be hard for the players to deal with. He's in much better shape right now. We all know his quality. The first goal again at Craven Cottage, against Tottenham as well, he did it in a fantastic way, right-footed, something he's been working on in the training sessions. It was a nice reward for him."
On whether Fulham are feeling the pressure of a European bid: "When you win football matches and you are in positions people probably didn't expect at the beginning of the season it's never a problem for us. The last three seasons we have been recognised as a very good Premier League side.
For us to be in the position we are in now is not something that takes a lot of time from the team. It's a privilege for us. It means we're doing something very good."
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Pereira, Berge, Iwobi (Traore 63), Smith Rowe (Cairney 72), Willian (Sessegnon 87), Jimenez (Muniz 63)
Unused substitutes: Reed, Cuenca, Benda, King, Godo
Goals:
Sessegnon 88 (GAME OVER!! Where's that come from?
A bolt from the blue.
Sessegnon doesn't celebrate against his former club. He should. This is a stunner!!
Sessegnon tussles with Davies, wins the battle, then curls into the far corner. Whip. Power. Precision.
Super strike!)
Muniz 78 (BREAKTHROUGH! Finally, we have the goal this game deserves.
Off the bench, Muniz shows composure on the penalty spot, collecting a lovely pass from Pereira and stroking beyond Vicario. Pinpoint finish.)
Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Spence, Romero (Maddison 68), Davies, Udogie, Bentancur (Scarlett 86), Gray, Bissouma (Bergvall 45), Johnson (Son Heung-Min 45), Solanke, Tel (Odobert 77)
Unused substitutes: Porro, Sarr, Kinsky, van de Ven
Referee:
Andy Madley (West Yorkshire)
Attendance: 27,182
Fulham are next in action at 12.15 on Saturday 29th March, when they welcome Crystal Palace to Craven Cottage in the Quarter Final of the FA Cup.
Source Geoff Pruce at Fulham FC/Peter Smith at SkySports