Fulham concluded their pre-season tour of Portugal with a successful outing in Estoril.
Two Aleksandar Mitrović headers from two corners in quick succession got things off to a flyer, before João Palhinha netted his first goal for the club shortly after.
A penalty scored by André Franco got one back for the home side, but overall it was a comfortable display from the team in black and white.
Marco Silva selected a strong and experienced side to face a club he holds fond memories of. The two new signings of Andreas and Palhinha linked up with Harrison Reed in midfield, Mitrović joined forces with Harry Wilson and Bobby De Cordova-Reid up top, while Tim Ream captained the side in a familiar backline.
Fulham started fast and were ahead with almost a carbon copy of their goal against Benfica after six minutes. Andreas’ out-swinging corner was nodded into the far side of the next by the soaring Mitrović and it was a simple but effective opening of the scoring.
Moments later and another corner brought joy. This time It was an inswinger from the other side from Wilson, and a calm and collected header in from Mitro at the far post.
An electric run forward from Antonee Robinson almost allowed Mitrović to get a hattrick in the opening quarter-of-an-hour. After linking up with Andreas, the left-back found Mitro on the edge of the box, but the big man was tackled at the last as he wound up to poke home.
It was one-way traffic in Estoril, and Silva’s side were whirring into action with a third goal after 24 minutes. Good work from Robinson again down the left gave Mitrović the ball on the edge of the box. His tap back fell perfectly for Palhinha, who sent a piledriver into the bottom right to score his first Fulham goal.
Just after the half hour mark and against the run of play came a penalty to Estoril. Tim Ream was adjudged to have fouled his man, and Franco stepped up to the spot to convert into the bottom right.
The second half was broken up in parts with some tasty tackles flying in from the home side, with Wilson’s quick feet being the victim for the majority.
It was our Welsh wizard’s left boot that caused trouble again after 64 minutes. A looped ball from a free kick on the left found Mitrović’s head, requiring a smart stop from the ‘keeper to keep the bounced effort out.
Mitrović was trying everything in his power to grab his hattrick, and almost had it with a bang. After Kenny Tete’s quick throw in caught out the Estoril defence, Wilson’s cross from the right was volleyed at goal by our big Serbian, only to whistle narrowly wide.
As the clocked ticked down there was a chance for rotation. Luke Harris, Jay Stansfield, Nathaniel Chalobah, Tyrece Francois and Rodrigo Muniz all came on to play their part in a solid victory.
