Fulham defeated a scrappy Queens Park Rangers side 2-0 after extra time in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday afternoon.
A quick-fire double from Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Neeskens Kebano near the end of the first half of extra time proved to be the difference between the two sides in what was an untidy affair.
After a two week unintended winter break, Scott Parker rang the changes but kept a number of First Teamers in his starting XI. The most notable addition being Terence Kongolo, making his first appearance for Fulham since re-joining the team on the domestic transfer deadline day. Kenny Tete, who has been working back from an injury sustained at the start of the season, also returned to pick up some valuable minutes.
In the opening five minutes the hosts should have taken the lead. After a rusty opening from Fulham, Macauley Bonne had a golden opportunity to open the scoring. A corner found the attacker unmarked in the box but fortunately he guided a tame header over the bar.
In the 11th minute we had our first foray into the Rangers half. A diagonal ball over the back line deep into the right-hand corner was chased down by Tete. After spotting the unmarked Josh Onomah, the Dutch international found his man. In return Onomah fed Ivan Cavaleiro on the edge of the box to flash an effort over the bar.
In the 20th minute Joe Bryan came close to producing a delicious goal to open the scoring. Seny Dieng, who rushed off his line to clear an attempted through ball intended for Cavaleiro, played a poor clearance straight to the feet of Bryan. Without hesitation the full-back chipped the goalkeeper but his effort went agonisingly wide.
In the 30th minute some route one stuff saw us carve open Queens Park Rangers. A long ball from the back from Kongolo was controlled expertly by Onomah just inside the opposition half. With players flooding forward Josh spotted the overlapping run of Aleksandar Mitrović in from the left wing. Just as the powerful Serbian looked to pull the trigger, an excellent sliding tackle from Yoann Barbet blocked the effort behind for a corner. Close.
After another chance for Bryan, Bright Osayi-Samuel flashed a shot on goal from just outside the box. After being mostly untroubled, Marek Rodák was alert to parry the fizzing drive to safety.
Deep into four minutes of stoppage time, the zonal marking scheme for the hosts was found wanting. After muscling past Geoff Cameron, Mitro headed wide from seven yards out, with Dieng beaten in the Hoops net.
The start to the second half saw the tempo of the match ratchet up. Fulham clearly dissatisfied by the pace of their ball movement in the first half came out moving the ball at speed.
In the 58th minute some of that quick movement and passing play saw us carve another shot on goal. With the ball urgently worked from the right flank to left, Ruben Loftus-Cheek eventually slipped Bryan through on goal. Without hesitation the left-back let fly with his right foot. However, the strike was straight at Dieng, who gathered with ease.
In the 63rd minute we really should have taken the lead. A lofted ball over the Rangers defence sprung the offside trap and Cavaleiro was clean through on goal. The Portuguese winger potentially took too much time in working his way through into the box before laying it off to Mitro. After firing low, the Serbian was denied by a block on the line.
Moments later Rodák was on hand to produce two excellent saves from close range to keep the scores level. Sensational reaction saves on two occasions with our backs against the wall.
After Lyndon Dykes missed a sitter in the 73rd minute it seemed the match was destined for extra time and that indeed proved to be the case. QPR very unfortunate not to spring the upset, having head the lion’s share of chances in the second period.
With little going for both sides, 11 minutes into the first half of extra-time substitute De Cordova-Reid flashed a header wide. Neat hold up play from Kebano allowed players to work their way forward in attack. One such man was Bryan on the left side of the penalty box. After being picked out by a nice pass out to the flank, the wide man swung a nice ball onto the head of the Jamaican international. His header lacked power and was watched wide by Dieng.
Minutes later there was nothing that could have been done to deny De Cordova-Reid. After some superb control and guile on the edge of the Rangers box, a net one-two with Mitro resulted in an exceptional goal. A low, unstoppable strike that fizzed into the bottom right-hand corner.
Two minutes after the opener the game was beyond doubt. With Rangers deflated, a flowing move from one side of the box to the other culminated in Kebano riffling home into the top corner from close range.
Game, set and match Fulham.
Fulham: Rodák; Aina, Ream, Kongolo (Hector 68'); Tete (Odoi 90'), Reed (Kebano 78'), Onomah, Bryan; Loftus-Cheek (Robinson 90'), Cavaleiro (De Cordova-Reid 67'), Mitrović.
QPR: Dieng; Cameron (Masterson 90'), Dickie, Barbet; Kane, Ball, Carroll (Bettache 82'), Chair (Thomas 82'), Osayi-Samuel (Hamalainen 90'); Bonne (Kelman 73'), Dykes.