Portimonense 2-3 Fulham

A Callum McFarlane brace and a Layvin Kurzawa header earned Fulham a 3-2 win over Portimonense this Sunday lunchtime.

Fulham had plenty of the ball in the first half but found themselves up against a stubborn Portimonense outfit who were showing exactly why they sit seventh in the Primeira Liga.

After Harrison Reed and Nathaniel Chalobah had seen efforts blocked and fly wide, Bernd Leno was called into action for the first time to beat away a powerful free-kick that was heading into the top corner.

The Whites responded with our best chance of the game as Sylvester Jasper cut in from the left, beat a couple of men and hit a clean strike from distance that came back off the crossbar.

Luke Harris then drew a save from the home goalkeeper having met Ibane Bowat’s centre, and Tosin nodded wide from a Reed free-kick.

Set-pieces were Portimonense’s most likely route to goal, with Leno again impressive as he tipped over an ambitious 30 yard free-kick at full stretch.

The half ended with Bowat glancing Reed’s corner wide of the far post.

First half team

Fulham’s new starting XI flew out of the traps in the second half, with Andreas Pereira going close twice inside the first four minutes, trying to catch out the Portimonense goalkeeper at his near post, first from the corner of the area and then from an actual corner. Both occasions saw the ‘keeper react just in time.

The breakthrough was imminent, though. Willian fed Tom Cairney down the left, his cross deflected to Josh Onomah whose volley was cleared off the line, and McFarlane reacted quickest to stoop home the opener.

The Under-21 striker was in a confident mood and followed that up with a 25 yarder than flew wide following a big tackle from Kenny Tete.

Cairney, Onomah and Willian all then had chances to extend the lead, but it was the hosts who drew next blood completely against the run of play having intercepted a square pass at the back.

The Whites' response was impeccable, though, with two more goals in as many minutes. First, Kurzawa powerfully headed in a pinpoint Andreas delivery following a neat short corner routine that also involved Cairney and Willian.

Cairney was instrumental again seconds later when he won a great tackle, which set up a four on three situation, and played in Andreas. He sent it back to his captain who flicked it behind him to McFarlane who had a cool first time finish in his locker.

Willian then rattled the bar from a tight angle as our dominance continued, though Portimonense did reduce the deficit late on.

Second half team