Fulham record a convincing win against South China at the Hong Kong Stadium on Friday.
Fulham Line-Up
First Half Action
After Fulham’s pre-match huddle, Referee C.T. Wong gets the game underway with Fulham kicking off in their all-white strip.
1 min Healy collects in the middle of the park and sends John through on goal. The Dutchman fails to outmuscle his marker in the area but the pair link up well early on.
2 min John almost scores a beauty from 25 yards. After controlling Smertin’s through the striker sends a right footed shot curling round the far post. Great attempt.
6 min Volz overlaps on the right and sends in an in-swinging cross from the by-line. John ghosts his marker and sends in a scintillating right-footed volley from 10 yards. Again, the wrong side of the post, but great technique from the Dutchman.
13 min A good overlap down the left from South China. Queudrue’s lapse in the area allows Hi Bai to fire in a shot from a central position but the ball sails harmlessly wide.
15 min A stunning left footed shot from H Qu from inside his own half sails towards Niemi’s goal. The Finn is left stranded but fortunately the ball sails wide. A fantastic piece of instinctive play.
16 min Rosenior tees up Healy on the left hand side of the area and the striker blasts in a left footed shot which is tipped over the bar.
18 min John flicks on Niemi’s goal-kick but is unintentionally caught on the side of the head. Clearly in pain the striker receives treatment. Fulham earn a free-kick for the foul which Quedrue assesses as John leaves the field.
19 min GOAL FULHAM! Queudrue sends in the free-kick form the half-way line. Diop ghosts his marker and heads the ball across goal into the back of the net. A well timed run by the Senegalese international and a clinical finish.
23 Min Diop almost makes it two with another header from a Quedrue free-kick. This time Diop meets the set-piece on the far post but his header drifts wide.
26 min John misses a golden opportunity in front of goal. Smertin’s beats his marker in the area and sends the ball across goal. John hesitates with his run on the far post and the Whites miss a great chance to go two to the good.
30 min Queudrue sends in a superb cross into the area from deep inside the South China half. Healy connects with the cross on the six yard line but fails to control the ball which sails over the bar.
40 min John controls the ball on the left of South China’s area, beats his marker and sends in a superb cross to the centre of the area. Rosenior meets the ball with a diving header but fails to find the target. More good work from John, an impressive first half performance from the striker.
45 min After two minutes of injury time both sides head in for the break. An impressive first-half performance from the Whites.
Second Half Action
46 min GOAL FULHAM! Bocanegra doubles Fulham's lead a minute into the second half. Timlin sends in a corner from the left and the US Captain times his run to perfection to head to ball into the far corner of the net.
50 min South China earn a free kick on the left hand side and the impressive H QU blasts the ball straight in on goal. Niemi is forced to block but South China enjoy a promising five minute spell after Bocanegra’s finish.
56 min GOAL SOUTH CHINA. A quick free-kick is delivered from the left and catches Fulham unaware. Barros races into the area to smash the ball past Niemi into the far corner of the net. A superb finish from Barros.
59 min South China continue to press and Sanchez reorganises his midfield. Timlin, Diop and Rosenior are subbed and replaced by Konchesky, Davis and Davies respectively.
64 min Inspired by the boisterous crowd and Barros’ goal, South China drive forward in search of the equaliser. Barros smashes in another shot from the edge of the area which sails wide but the home side have the momentum. McBride replaces John.
71 min Two further changes by the Manager. Chris Baird replaces Moritz Volz at right back and Aaron Hughes for Ian Pearce in the heart of Fulham’s defence.
73 min GOAL FULHAM! Smertin crosses from the by-line on the right and Healy scores with a fine diving header from the penalty spot. After a sustained period of pressure from South China, Healy put s the result beyond doubt.
82 min GOAL FULHAM! Healy, Davies and Smertin produce a great piece of link up play, switching the ball from left to right before Davies crosses from the right by-line. McBride steams in at the far post to tap in from close range to make it 4-1.
90 min A snapshot in the area from a South China corner hits Carlos Bocanegra in the face on the goal line. The American’s positioning on the post stops a certain goal. Seconds later the final whistle blows and Fulham record a convincing win against South China.