Supersub Harry Wilson scored twice in an astonishing spell of stoppage time as Fulham snatched victory from their shell-shocked west London rivals.
Fulham dominated nearly from begin to end, however have been unable to penetrate Brentford till Wilson’s wondergoal levelled the scores within the 92nd minute.
The Welshman was solely on the pitch 10 minutes earlier than getting on the scoreboard. Adama Traore swung the ball in from the correct and Wilson threw out a foot. And Craven Cottage appeared to return to a standstill because the ball looped over Mark Flekken’s head and dropped within the far nook.
Whether or not it was a fluke or mastery is unclear, however the Fulham followers couldn’t care much less. After 24 pictures on course, the least probably had lastly rung true.
Then, remarkably, Wilson struck once more with a beautiful looping header to seal the three factors. Pandemonium, as you’ll count on, ensued.
Harry Wilson got here off the bench to safe a dramatic comeback win for Fulham
The Welshman netted twice within the closing levels because the Cottagers secured all three factors
Brentford had discovered themselves on the again foot for a lot of the west London derby
There might be many Arsenal followers who thought they may at some point be handled to a present the likes of which Gunners exiles Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson placed on within the first half.
Nelson was exuberant and effervescent, whereas Smith Rowe had the liberty of London along with his intricate touches, elegant dribbling and pinpoint passing.
With one level from 9, you do marvel how various things would possibly look again on the Emirates proper now if Fulham’s No 32 was pulling the strings in Martin Odegaard’s absence.
It took simply 5 minutes for Smith Rowe to work his magic, inviting Nelson to fly into the field and goal for the underside nook, however he was twice denied by Flekken.
Seven minutes later, Nelson took on your entire Brentford again line in a driving, squirming run, however the one factor he couldn’t outrun was himself, a careless contact denying him an opportunity at a aim of the season contender.
It was all Fulham early on. On 16 minutes Smith Rowe performed a fantastic one-two with Antonee Robinson to ghost his method into the field, just for a goal-saving problem from Nathan Collins to disclaim the hosts once more. However for all their strain, they might not make their possibilities rely and in soccer everyone knows what usually comes subsequent.
On 24 minutes, a sloppy contact from Calvin Bassey was punished by Vitaly Janelt, who was fed by Christian Norgaard after Mikkel Damsgaard’s interception to fireside the Bees into the lead with an excellent effort from exterior the field in opposition to the run of play.
That suckerpunch momentarily took the wind out of Fulham’s sails, however they ended the half on prime as soon as extra, Smith Rowe coming near the equaliser his efficiency merited with a header that was blocked en path to Flekken. Fulham continued to dominate after the break, however Brentford have been a lot tighter, having seemingly discovered their early lesson.
This time, it was Alex Iwobi seeing the lion’s share of the ball because the deep Brentford line compelled the hosts to alter tactic and ship crosses into the field.
Brentford might not have been seeing a lot of the ball, however to their credit score the Bees executed their very own recreation plan effectively.
Smith Rowe and Nelson have been unable to take advantage of area in behind the complete backs as they’d performed within the first half and immediately Fulham’s possession was blunted.
Potshots from Kenny Tete, Iwobi and Bassey have been the one efforts to bother Flekken, however even a very swerving effort from Fulham’s proper again provided little to bother the Bees keeper.
Marco Silva’s facet seemed brilliant early with Emile Smith-Rowe a constant menace
But it surely was Brentford who drew first blood as Vitaly Janelt opened the scoring
Striker unleashed a thunderous strike from exterior the field to provide his facet the lead
Fulham continued to press ahead all through, and Wilson’s introduction turned the sport on its head
Fulham boss Marco Silva rang the adjustments, with the hulking Adam Traore injected into the assault, however even he couldn’t bulldoze his method by means of the Bees resolute defence, which withstood cross after cross.
Extra adjustments got here, with Smith Rowe and Nelson sacrificed as we headed into the ultimate 10 minutes and nonetheless the strain ratcheted up.
On 85 minutes the hosts thought they’d lastly obtained their equaliser when defender Joachim Andersen leapt highest from a nook, however his header flew straight into Flekken’s arms.
There was nonetheless time for the late drama although — and what drama it was too.
