Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 01/03/23...

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FA Cup

Tuesday
Fulham	2-0	Leeds

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Fulham 2-0 Leeds United

Marco Silva should be in contention for manager of the year for the "excellent" work he is doing at Fulham, says former England defender Micah Richards.

Fulham reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 2010 after defeating Leeds United in an all-Premier League tie at Craven Cottage.

Special goals by Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha and Manor Solomon continued the feel-good factor at the club, who sit sixth in the Premier League after last season's promotion from the Championship under Portuguese boss Silva, who took charge in July 2021.

They are now just two wins from a first FA Cup final since 1975.

"Marco Silva has been excellent," said Richards, who was at the game as part of BBC One's live coverage. "At the start of the season we asked 'are Fulham going to go down?'.

"He's not only stabilised that but he has got a way of playing that suits the players he has got in the team - and he can mix it up.

"I just think the story of Fulham... he has got to be up for manager of the year."

Former Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy, who was also part of BBC One's coverage, said it would be "amazing" if his old club went on to win the FA Cup for the first time.

"How amazing would that be? It would be great reward for the fans and this manager who has done so well this season," he added.

"But you need a bit of luck in the next round."

Fulham thriving under Silva
Fulham are now unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions and are a team full of confidence under Silva.

Silva made seven changes to his side but it still proved enough to send Leeds to a first defeat under their new boss Javi Gracia - and Fulham into Wednesday's draw for the quarter-finals.

Leeds, who were well backed in London by their travelling fans, fell behind to Palhinha's outstanding curling finish from about 30 yards which went in off the post.

The visitors responded by hitting the post through Georginio Rutter's looping header, while they also had two goals - from Rutter and Wilfried Gnonto - ruled out.

Gnonto also forced a fine save from Marek Rodak before the visitors conceded a second, Solomon scoring for the fourth successive game with a strike past Illan Meslier from the edge of the box after exchanging passes with Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Fulham advanced by scoring from two of their three attempts on target. In contrast, Leeds had 16 attempts - six on target - without scoring.

'We're trying to change our FA Cup story'
Fulham boss Marco Silva: "It's great for us to go through to play in the quarter-finals for the first time since 2009-10. We know that our story as a club in the FA Cup is not great and we are here to try and change it."

Leeds boss Javi Gracia: "To be honest I think today we were a little bit unlucky because we created many chances. We were very close to scoring. One post, one goal disallowed which in my opinion was very soft. The effort of my players was massive.

"But if you don't score and you are not clinical then you lose. Now our target is to try and win the next game, try and improve our position in the table and to try and grow."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64792217

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Fulham 2-0 Leeds

A pair of world class strikes saw Fulham progress to the Quarter-Finals of the Emirates FA Cup, at the expense of Leeds United.

João Palhinha – in his final outing before serving a two-game suspension – got things up and running with an outrageous long range finish, which he had set up himself with a trademark tackle.

Manor Solomon doubled our lead in the second half with a goal straight out of the Solomon playbook, bending home after cutting in from the left for his fourth goal in as many outings.

Two of seven changes to the starting line-up saw Cédric Soares and Saša Lukić handed full debuts, while Aleksandar Mitrović made a welcome return from injury to lead the line.

Leeds had the ball in the net with quarter of an hour played when Georginio Rutter tapped in after Marek Rodák had saved Weston McKennie's header at a corner, but the American midfielder only made contact having shoved Harry Wilson out the way, and the goal was duly ruled out.

It had been a lowkey start to proceedings, but there was nothing timid about the opener. With his first touch, Palhinha robbed the ball from Marc Roca 30 yards from goal, and with his second he caressed an absolutely stunning shot into the back of the net via the post. Simply sublime.

Leeds responded with a decent Roca hit from the edge of the box which Rodák was forced to parry away, before having a further goal disallowed when Wilfried Gnonto converted from an offside position following another good Rodák stop.

For the third time, the away fans in the Putney End celebrated what they thought was a goal at the end of the half when Rutter sent a looping header over Rodák, but it came back off the inside of the post after it looked for all the world to be finding the back of the net.

Rodák had needed to be alert in the first half, and that was the case again in the opening phases of the second when he got down sharply to repel Gnonto's angled drive, before holding Rutter's snapshot.

You almost, just almost, felt sorry for Leeds when Solomon struck. It was absolutely trademark from the Israeli, playing a one-two with Mitrović before curling a peach beyond Illan Meslier and inside the far post.

Mitrović thought he'd made it three when he stooped to nod home Cédric's lovely cross, but he was beyond the last man when the Portuguese whipped the ball in and was flagged off.

A couple of United changes gave them something of a renewed vigour, with Jack Harrison blazing over and Brenden Aaronson volleying marginally wide.

Denied an assist by the linesperson's flag, Cédric tried to go one better with five minutes to play when he let rip from 25 yards. The power had Meslier worried, with the goalkeeper needing two bites to hold onto it.

It wasn't to be a miss of any significance, though, with the Whites holding out to book a first FA Cup Quarter-Final berth since 2010.

Fulham FC: Rodák, Cédric (Tete 90'), Ream, Tosin, Antonee Robinson, Solomon (De Cordova-Reid 81'), Wilson (Willian 82'), João Palhinha (Reed 81'), Andreas Pereira, Lukić, Mitrović (Carlos Vinícius 69')

Subs: Duffy, Carlos Vinícius, Leno, Harris, De Cordova-Reid, Reed, Tete, Willian, Diop

Leeds: Meslier, Firpo, Ayling, Koch, Kristensen, Adams, Roca (Aaronson 74'), McKennie, Summerville, Rutter (Bamford 63'), Gnonto (Harrison 64')

Subs: Gyabi, Diogo Monteiro, Perkins, Robles, Gray, Bamford, Mateo Joseph, Harrison, Aaronson



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/february/28/fulham-2-0-leeds/

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Fulham beat Leeds to reach FA Cup quarter-finals

Brilliant strikes from João Palhinha and Manor Solomon took Fulham through to the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Palhinha put the Whites ahead with a stunning curling effort midway through the first half.

Solomon doubled the lead when he scored for the fourth game in a row.

Solomon exchanged passes with the fit-again Aleksandar Mitrovic near edge of the penalty and sent a glorious shot beyond keeper Illan Meslier and into the far corner of the net.

The goal was almost identical to the one Solomon scored against Wolves and continued his superb recent form.

And the result continued Fulham's fine season. They are sixth in the Premier League table, and in the last eight of the FA Cup for the first time since 2010.

They went through despite Leeds creating plenty of chances.

Georginio Rutter's looping header hit the post and the visitors had two goals – from Rutter and Wilfried Gnonto – ruled out.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-beat-leeds-to-reach-fa-cup-quarter-finals

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Liverpool vs. Fulham to be postponed – Reds face 17 days without a game

Fulham's FA Cup fifth-round win over Leeds on Tuesday means another Liverpool fixture must now be rearranged.

All of the FA Cup quarter-final ties are set to be played across the weekend of Saturday, March 18, meaning Liverpool's upcoming Premier League home fixture with Fulham will now need to be rescheduled.

That match was pencilled in to be played on Saturday, March 18 at 3pm (GMT), in Liverpool's final game before the upcoming international break.

But the postponement of the fixture means their Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday, March 15 could be their final match for two-and-half weeks, before club football resumes on Saturday, April 1.

Even with Liverpool highly unlikely to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, their April fixture schedule is certainly a busy one.

If, as expected, they are knocked out of Europe by Real Madrid, there's a slim chance that the Reds' meeting with Fulham could now be played on Wednesday, April 12, but a May slot looks most likely.

There is a possibility the match could be played on Wednesday, May 3 or Thursday, May 4, between Liverpool's league meetings with Tottenham and Brentford.

Otherwise, it would need to take place between the weekends Saturday, May 20 and Saturday, May 27, which would make it Liverpool's penultimate league fixture of the campaign.

In the reverse fixture between these two teams on the opening day of the Premier League season, Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage, with Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah both on the scoresheet.

Fulham's first season back in the Premier League has been a very successful one to date, with the Cottagers currently in sixth place, one spot ahead of Liverpool going into the Reds' home meeting with Wolves on Wednesday.



https://www.thisisanfield.com/2023/02/liverpool-vs-fulham-to-be-postponed-reds-face-17-days-without-a-game/

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Fulham 2-0 Leeds: Joao Palhinha scores a 30-yard STUNNER and Manor Solomon nets his fourth in as many games to fire in-form Cottagers into FA Cup quarter-finals, with Javi Gracia suffering first defeat in new job

    Fulham beat Leeds United 2-0 after scoring two superb goals on Tuesday night
    The first was outstanding, classily converted from 30 yards by Joao Palhinha
    The second came from Solomon - who has scored four goals in four games now

As he watched a string of far simpler opportunities come and go for his side, new Leeds manager Javi Gracia must have cursed at the two spectacular goals that sent Fulham into the quarter-finals.

The first was outstanding, classily converted from 30 yards by Joao Palhinha, his parting gift before a two-game ban brushing the post on its way in.

The second was from closer in but no less eye-catching, Manor Solomon, scorer off the bench in three successive appearances, showing he can do it as a starter too with a curling effort of his own after a one-two with Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Fulham's finishing from long-range was in sharp contrast to that produced by Leeds from much nearer to the target.

Luck deserted them at times with two goals ruled out, the first harshly. They were wild and wasteful at others and how they failed to convert any of their 16 attempts was a headscratcher.

One late penalty area scramble contained three near misses in one frantic attack and confirmed, if there was any remaining doubt, that it was not their night.

Leeds now have just their relegation battle to focus on which resumes not far from Craven Cottage, at Chelsea, on Saturday.

Meanwhile Fulham, flying high in sixth position in the Premier League, can also look forward to the last eight for the first time since 2010 and keep dreaming about a trip to Wembley.

Fulham manager Marco Silva said: 'It's not easy to decide a favourite goal of the two. They're two great moments.

'I said from the start our ambition is really high in this competition. We are humble enough to admit the favourites are other sides but we want to do our best to play the semi-finals.'

Gracia said: 'We were a bit unlucky. We created many chances but were not clinical didn't finish with composure. If you don't score you don't have any chance.'

Leeds's misfortune began when Rutter's tap-in was harshly ruled out for what referee Chris Kavanagh deemed to be an earlier foul on Harry Wilson by Weston McKennie.

'It was very, very soft,' Gracia said, rightly.

Seven minutes later the alert Palhinha intercepted Tyler Adams's pass and with his next touch curled a stunning effort past Illan Meslier.

It was a great strike, though one Silva missed as he was complaining to the officials after a potential foul challenge on Antonee Robinson was overlooked.

A goal continued to evade Leeds who saw a Willy Gnonto effort ruled out for offside and Rutter's header hit the post.

Another flurry of spurned Leeds attempts followed after the break so imagine the frustration when Solomon showed them how it is done, trading passes with Aleksandar Mitrovic before replicating Palhinha by whipping the ball around the diving Meslier from outside the box.

There was still time for a comeback and to their credit Leeds did not give up while Silva felt his side should have controlled the game better.

If only Leeds could take chances as well as they created them.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11804805/Fulham-2-0-Leeds-Fulham-secure-place-FA-quarter-final.html

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Fulham 2-0 Leeds: Silva's men prevail in all-Premier League FA Cup clash at Craven Cottage

Fulham are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after a 2-0 victory against Premier League rivals Leeds United.

Both goals showcased individual skill, with Manor Solomon's curled effort second only to a stunning strike from distance to break the deadlock from Joao Palhinha.

Leeds continued to show improvement since Javi Gracia's appointment but were unable to book a place in the last eight for the first time in 20 years despite having a number of chances, including a slightly controversial disallowed goal.

Fulham, who have exceeded all expectations in the top flight this year, reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 2009-10.

Georginio Rutter thought he had scored his first goal for Leeds when he tapped the ball home after Marek Rodak had palmed the ball into the path of the 20-year-old, but referee Chris Kavanagh ruled it out for a soft foul in the area and VAR did not intervene.

It was Fulham who took the lead after 21 minutes when Palhinha capitalised after intercepting an attempted pass. The Portugal international drove forward before expertly curling the ball into the top corner with a stunning finish for his first club goal since December.

Leeds came close again in the final moments of first-half stoppage time when Wilfried Gnonto's looped ball into the box was headed goalwards by Rutter, but the ball dropped onto the inside of the post and Fulham were able to clear.

Rodak was called into action early in the second half, parrying behind a Gnonto shot after he was played in by Crysencio Summerville.

Leeds continued to test the goalkeeper and started the second half significantly more brightly than the hosts.

Just as the visitors had been piling on the pressure for an equaliser, it was Fulham who doubled their lead through the in-form Solomon.

The winger, on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, curled in from the edge of the box after playing a one-two with Aleksandar Mitrovic to create the opening.

Solomon has impressed in recent weeks after a difficult season when he spent almost five months on the sidelines after sustaining a serious knee injury, with his recovery carefully managed by the club.

After going 2-0 up the hosts continued to push, with Mitrovic having a goal ruled out for offside, and despite a flurry of chances for Leeds in the final 10 minutes, Rodak remained equal to them.



https://www.football365.com/news/fulham-2-0-leeds-silvas-men-prevail-all-premier-league-fa-cup-clash-report

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Manor Solomon scores again as Fulham reach the last eight with win over Leeds

Manor Solomon struck for a fourth time in as many matches as Fulham reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win over Leeds.

Both goals showcased individual skill, with Solomon's curled effort second only to a stunning strike from distance to break the deadlock from Joao Palhinha.

Leeds continued to show improvement since Javi Gracia's appointment but were unable to book a place in the last eight for the first time in 20 years despite having a number of chances, including a slightly controversial disallowed goal.

Fulham, who have exceeded all expectations in the top flight this year, reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 2009-10.

Georginio Rutter thought he had scored his first goal for Leeds when he tapped the ball home after Marek Rodak had palmed the ball into the path of the 20-year-old, but referee Chris Kavanagh ruled it out for a soft foul in the area and VAR did not intervene.

It was Fulham who took the lead after 21 minutes when Palhinha capitalised after intercepting an attempted pass. The Portugal international drove forward before expertly curling the ball into the top corner with a stunning finish for his first club goal since December.

Leeds came close again in the final moments of first-half stoppage time when Wilfried Gnonto's looped ball into the box was headed goalwards by Rutter, but the ball dropped onto the inside of the post and Fulham were able to clear.

Rodak was called into action early in the second half, parrying behind a Gnonto shot after he was played in by Crysencio Summerville.

Leeds continued to test the goalkeeper and started the second half significantly more brightly than the hosts.

Just as the visitors had been piling on the pressure for an equaliser, it was Fulham who doubled their lead through the in-form Solomon.

The winger, on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, curled in from the edge of the box after playing a one-two with Aleksandar Mitrovic to create the opening.

Solomon has impressed in recent weeks after a difficult season when he spent almost five months on the sidelines after sustaining a serious knee injury, with his recovery carefully managed by the club.

After going 2-0 up the hosts continued to push, with Mitrovic having a goal ruled out for offside, and despite a flurry of chances for Leeds in the final 10 minutes, Rodak remained equal to them.



https://www.irishnews.com/sport/footballsoccer/2023/02/28/news/manor_solomon_scores_again_as_fulham_reach_the_last_eight_with_win_over_leeds-3097510/

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Fulham 2-0 Leeds: Dream season continues as Joao Palhinha and Manor Solomon score brilliant FA Cup goals

The sense around Craven Cottage was that Fulham's season feels a little bit like a dream.

The blissful reality for Fulham's fans is that this is all very much real. And now their club are FA Cup quarter-finalists for the first time since 2010, after stunning strikes from Joao Palhinha and Manor Solomon saw them knock Leeds out.

Leeds, willed on all night by their fervent travelling support, had the ball in the net inside 15 minutes when record signing Georginio Rutter mopped up after goalkeeper Marek Rodak had spilt Weston McKennie's header. The Leeds celebrations were short-lived, though, as the referee disallowed the goal for a McKennie push on Harry Wilson.

Fulham were the dominant side throughout and that was largely down to the battling midfield work of Palhinha. The Portuguese international, signed from Sporting in the summer, has been the club's undisputed player of the season.

He scored a truly magnificent goal on 21 minutes — nipping in front of Marc Roca to dispossess with one touch, before curling over the goalkeeper and in off the post with a second. Marco Silva's side had the lead through one of the finest strikes across the entire FA Cup this season.

Javi Gracia's Leeds kept their discipline despite Fulham's control, looking to counter at any opportunity. Rodak got down well to save Rasmus Kristensen's long shot, but Wilfried Gonto was rightly flagged for offside after slotting the rebound beyond the 'keeper.

Leeds fans felt aggrieved to have two goals chalked off within a single half of football, but both were rightly disallowed. Fulham were on the receiving end of the same treatment midway through the second period when Aleksandar Mitrovic's header was ruled out as the Serb had been lurking beyond the last defender.

Gracia's side upped their game late in the half when Rutter struck a head that landed against the foot of the post, with a sprawling Rodak beaten.

Leeds were no longer soaking up constant pressure in the second half, a more even affair. Rodak denied Gnonto on the angle, then Rutter forced another save.

But if Palhinha was Fulham's best performer on the night, the runner-up was Manor Solomon. On just his third start in seven months due to a cruel knee injury sustained in August, he scored for the fourth Fulham game running. Those had come off the bench, but this was the best yet.

Solomon cut in from the left, played a give-and-go with Mitrovic, and then whipped the ball into the far corner. Another cracker from the side sat sixth in the Premier League table.

Mitrovic scored an offside third, but Fulham didn't need another. Their work here was done. For the first time in over a decade, an FA Cup quarter-final beckons — in a season when everything seems to be going right for them.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-fc-vs-leeds-fa-cup-result-2023-palhinha-solomon-goals-b1063797.html

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Silva hails 'two great finishes' after Fulham reach quarter-finals 

Fulham boss Marco Silva enjoyed the two superb goals that took his side into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Strikes from Joao Palhinha and Manor Solomon saw off Leeds and put the Whites in the last eight.

Asked which goal he thought was best, Silva said: "It's not easy to decide. Two different moments but two great finishes.

"The first one was a very good recovery from Joao, the way he won the ball and a great finish.

"The other one was different. The way Manor linked with our striker and a great finish from a spot that (he) is very strong (from).

"It's for our fans to decide what's the best, but they were two great moments."

Despite the brilliant result, Silva admitted his team were not at their best.

Leeds created several chances, had two goals disallowed and also hit the post.

"I thought in the first half we were more in control given the way they approached the game but it is easy to understand from the first minute they pressed really high," Silva said.

"We created some dangerous moments around their box but they have dangerous and quick forwards and we gave them too many chances.

"We lost the ball too often in areas that we should not and when you give them a chance to make good counter-attacks they took from us the confidence we should have to play with."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/silva-hails-two-great-finishes-after-fulham-reach-quarter-finals