Sunday Fulham Stuff - 31/03/24...

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Results

Saturday 30/03
Newcastle	4-3	West Ham
Bournemouth	2-1	Everton
Chelsea	2-2	Burnley
Forest	1-1	Palace
Sheff Utd	3-3	Fulham
		Palhinha De Cordova-Reid Muniz
Spurs	2-1	Luton
Villa	2-0	Wolves
Brentford	1-1	Man Utd

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Sheffield United 3-3 Fulham

Rodrigo Muniz has scored eight goals in his past eight Premier League games

Rodrigo Muniz scored with a spectacular injury-time bicycle kick as Fulham came back from two goals down to deny bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United a vital victory.

In the third of 14 scheduled additional minutes at the end of regulation time, Muniz connected with Adama Traore's cross in an incredible second half at Bramall Lane.

Sheffield United threw away a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 at Bournemouth last time out and the Blades let slip another glorious winning chance, having been 3-1 ahead at the 86-minute mark.

But Fulham substitute Bobby de Cordova-Reid made an instant impact by shooting into the net from 25 yards to set up a frantic finish before Muniz grabbed his eighth goal in eight games.

The Blades had looked on course to secure what would have been only their fourth Premier League win of the season and went ahead through Ben Brereton Diaz, on loan from Villarreal, in the 58th minute.

Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo had given the ball away and Oli McBurnie produced an excellent cross from the left with the outside of his right boot, with Brereton Diaz converting.

The visitors equalised four minutes later when an unmarked Joao Palhinha headed in from Andreas Pereira's right-wing corner.

But Chris Wilder's team scored twice in a three-minute spell as they looked to have taken the game away from the London side.

Brereton Diaz pulled the ball back for McBurnie to put the hosts back in front in the 68th minute, and Chile international Brereton Diaz made it 3-1 by heading in Gustavo Hamer's cross.

The hosts thought they had got a fourth when McBurnie finished, but it was ruled out by a video assistant referee (VAR) decision, which showed Vini Souza was standing in an offside position and blocking goalkeeper Bernd Leno's view.

If that goal had been given, the Blades would surely have gone on to win, but once more they could not hold on to their advantage as Fulham fought back to leave with a point.

Both sides reflect on missed opportunity
The result leaves the Blades seven points behind Nottingham Forest in 17th and Luton in 18th, but Wilder will be again reflecting on a missed opportunity.

They had only scored 24 goals in their previous 28 league matches and were heading for one of their best results of the season before the late drama.

Once again, defensive mistakes proved to be their undoing.

Palhinha was given far too much space for Fulham's first, while Wilder will also be unhappy with the second goal conceded, before Muniz's moment of brilliance.

Indeed, Fulham could have snatched a winner at the end, only for Ivo Grbic to deny Tom Cairney in the 16th minute of additional time.

Sheffield United have now conceded 24 goals in their past five home matches in all competitions.

This result comes after they lost 5-2 at home to Brighton in the fourth round of the FA Cup, suffered successive 5-0 league defeats by Aston Villa and Brighton and were hammered 6-0 by Arsenal.

Fulham came 10th in the Premier League last season and Marco Silva's side are 12th, still with an outside chance of qualifying for next season's Europa Conference League.

As it stands, finishing seventh would be enough to qualify, although if Championship side Coventry City or mid-table Premier League team Chelsea won the FA Cup then Fulham would need to come in the top six.

Fulham are five points behind seventh-placed West Ham, but just like Sheffield United, will be wondering how they did not win this game.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68644068

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Post-Sheff Utd Press Conference
Marco Silva's frustration at the goals conceded was compensated by the character shown by his side at Bramall Lane.

Three preventable Sheffield United goals had us trailing 3-1, but wonderful finishes from Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Rodrigo Muniz earned us a point, before the team left everthing on the pitch to try and snatch a winner.

"An exciting game, for sure, for the people that were here," Silva said. "I have to be honest – it's a disappointing result for us.

"Clearly a disappointing result for us, because when you are dominant from the first minute like we were, the team that created clearly more chances to win the game, that from the first minute was on the front foot and tried to win the game, it is disappointing.

"Not just because of that – the way we conceded goals. These type of games, when we are dominant, we have the ball most of the time, we cannot be sloppy in the way we conceded the first and the second, even the third [with] the way we lost the ball.

"It creates a difficult scenario, but the reaction I have to say was fantastic. We, as a team, refused to lose this game.

"The players felt, for sure, on the pitch the way we were losing the game was really unfair, but it was our fault as well, and we fought as a team.

"We showed the quality to come back from 3-1, scoring two great goals and creating more chances even to win the game in the last minutes. Even the last minute of the game, the big chance with Tom Cairney at that free-kick.

"Overall, looking at the game, I have to say that it's disappointing results, [but] I'm pleased for the reaction from the players."

Muniz's equaliser was a thing of beauty, slamming a stunning overhead kick into the corner of the net from Adama Traoré's cross.

All the more pleasing was that the striker had been nursing a knock heading into the fixture.

"First of all, nice to see him handle all the game, the 105 minutes, because he had a tough week," Silva revealed.

"10 days ago he got an injury in a training session, he just trained the last two days for the match. Nice to see him handle the game and to play and to be decisive again.

"It was an unlucky afternoon for us, for him, when he had two off the post. The first half off the post, great save from the goalkeeper, and a great, great header from himself. If that goes in the net it's going to be an unbelievable goal from himself.

"Even so, he kept the composure, he kept the trust in himself. We provided good chances for him – great, great goal from him, and great to see him scoring again and helping the team to get points. Much more to come from him."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/march/30/post-sheff-utd-press-conference/

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Sheffield United 3-3 Fulham: Six-goal thriller at Bramall Lane sees Blades drop two-point lead for second time this MONTH with Rodrigo Muniz' spectacular bicycle kick to salvage a late point for Cottagers

    Rodrigo Muniz' marvellous overhead kick clawed back a hard-fought draw
    Fulham came from behind to salvage a draw despite going 3-1 down 

Rodrigo Muniz struck a spectacular late equaliser to salvage a point for Fulham and deny Sheffield United victory in a dramatic thrilling second half.

After a goalless and largely lifeless first half, Ben Brereton Diaz fired the Blades in front in the 58th minute.

Although the Cottagers soon levelled through Joao Paulhinha's header, the ubiquitous Brereton Diaz set up strike partner Oli McBurnie to restore United's lead and then added a third to make it 3-1.

Euphoria was everywhere at a ground where Wilder's men had been battered in their three previous Premier League home games.

Marco Silva's side came back strongly, though, and substitute Bobby De Cordova-Reid made it 3-2 in the 86th minute before in-form Muniz grabbed his eighth goal in eight games in the third minute of added time to level matters.


Rodrigo Muniz was the hero as his magnificent overhead strike earned Fulham a late point
 

It would have been a much-needed three points for the Blades, who are in 20th in the table
 

Muniz scored his eighth goal in as many games as he struck late to secure a point

A 6-0 thumping at the hands of Arsenal in their last game at Bramall Lane, which followed successive 5-0 hammerings against Aston Villa and Brighton, had caused serious embarrassment for the hosts.

Not only to Wilder and his players but to the red and white half of a football-obsessed city.

Thus this was a day for the Blades to stand their ground and that they most certainly did against a Fulham side who had won four of their last six Premier League games.

Do not underestimate how bad Wilder's side were in their recent horror shows in front of their own supporters.

The run saw them become the first club in English league history to lose three consecutive home games by a margin of five or more goals. Do not overlook that either.

But at a sun-kissed Bramall Lane, Marco Silva's upward Cottagers struggled to settle against their tenacious hosts.

The Blades fought hard for every ball and showed the kind of collective desire that had been missing in recent home showings.

Chances were scarce during the first half and the best opening fell to Fulham's Muniz in the 38th minute.

The striker had scored seven goals in his previous seven appearances but his low shot struck a post before he blazed the rebound over the crossbar.


Substitute Bobby De Cordova-Reid made it 3-2 in the 86th minute before in-form Muniz grabbed his eighth goal in eight games

The first half was entirely forgettable but after the break the game came to life in exhilarating fashion.

Muniz struck the woodwork for the second time shortly after the break with a looping header before United's opener arrived.

McBurnie broke down the left flank and his superb low cross was lashed home by Brereton Diaz from six yards out.

Fulham levelled in the 62nd minute when Palhinha headed in Andreas Periera's corner.

Yet United were not to be denied and came back strongly again when Brereton Diaz's neat cut-back was tapped in by McBurnie.

Remarkably, it was 3-1 in the 68th minute when Brereton Diaz headed in Gus Hamer's left-wing cross before clashing with Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

That led to a VAR check for a possible red card but no action was taken and the home stands roared their delight.

McBurnie fired home a fourth for the Blades but his celebrations were cut short by a VAR check which ruled out the goal with home midfielder Vini Souza offside.

Cottagers substitute Bobby Der Cordova-Reid then fired in from Tom Cairney's pass to cut United's lead moments later.

And then, in the third of 14 minutes of added time, substitute Adama Traore crossed from the right flank and Muniz produced a spectacular right-foot volley from 12 yards which flew into the net.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13255203/Sheffield-United-3-3-Fulham-Six-goal-thriller-Bramall-Lane-sees-Blades-drop-two-point-lead-second-time-MONTH-Rodrigo-Muniz-spectacular-bicycle-kick-salvage-late-point-Cottagers.html

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Sheffield United 3-3 Fulham: In-form Rodrigo Muniz claims dramatic late point
Cottagers fight back from two goals down

In-form Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz struck late to claim a dramatic point for Fulham at Sheffield United.

It capped off a remarkable turnaround for Marco Silva's side, who fought back from two goals down at Bramall Lane.

The Blades took the lead when Oli McBurnie's cross from the left found Ben Brereton Diaz in the box for a quick tap into the net in the 58th minute. Fulham equalised just four minutes later through Joao Palhinha's header off a corner.

McBurnie restored United's lead in the 68th minute, two minutes before Brereton Diaz got his second to make it 3-1. But substitute Bobby Decordova-Reid scored for Fulham in the 86th minute before Rodrigo Muniz got the equaliser three minutes into added time.

United remained bottom of the table with 15 points ahead of Thursday's visit to Liverpool. Fulham, 12th with 39 points from 30 matches, visit Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united-vs-fulham-fc-premier-league-result-today-2024-b1148609.html

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Sheffield United player ratings from dramatic Fulham draw as fans fume at "corrupt" Premier League - gallery
Sheffield United fans fuming after late drama in 3-3 draw with Fulham at Bramall Lane

Sheffield United fans were left fuming at the "corrupt" Premier League after their side conceded an equaliser in FOURTEEN minutes of injury time at home to Fulham this afternoon. The Blades were 3-1 ahead - and then 4-1 before Oli McBurnie's strike was ruled out for offside - before Fulham hit back, with Rodrigo Muniz's acrobatic effort dragging them level in the third minute of added time.

Ben Brereton Diaz scored twice and McBurnie was also on the scoresheet as United assumed control before Fulham's late fightback, with referee Tim Robinson and his officials subjected to a hostile reception as they left the pitch at the end. Here's how we rated United's players on a crazy afternoon at Bramall Lane...

1. Ivo Grbic 5
Had little to do in a first half of few chances for either side but when called upon he made a great save low down to his right to keep out a poked effort from Muniz that may have taken a touch from Ahmedhodzic as well to help it on its way. Had little chance with any of Fulham's goals, on first viewing, after being left exposed and was otherwise solid

2. Jayden Bogle 5
Retained his place at right-back with Baldock injured on international duty and put in a composed display, getting forward when he could and showing his attacking threat

3. Mason Holgate 4
Back in the side at the first opportunity after his suspension turned into a longer one because of the international break and earned a morale-boosting reception from the home fans for a good challenge to dispossess Willian after the Brazilian had got around him. But then hardly covered himself in glory for Muniz's dramatic late leveller, giving the striker a yard of room and then dangling his body in an attempt to block

4. Anel Ahmedhodzic 5
Back in as one of three changes but minus the captain's armband, although it didn't seem to affect him too badly in a generally solid display until the late capitulation

5. Jack Robinson 5
Led United out as skipper despite Ahmedhodzic's return to the starting line-up and was generally solid enough, although he was part of a cluster of defenders who let Joao Palhinha roam free and plant a free header for the equaliser when he should never have got that far

6. Ben Osborn 5
Filled in again at left wing-back and again let nobody down, taking a cross flush to the face for his troubles which left him momentarily dazed. Showed good composure in the build-up to United's first goal and dealt with the lively threat of Iwobi well enough

7. Vini Souza 5
Had his manager's comments about doing his talking on the pitch fresh in his ears as he returned to the starting XI in place of the missing Tom Davies, and largely did that with a decent display which saw him put his body on the line when needed. Was unfortunate to be ruled offside for McBurnie's goal but it was the right call before he suffered cramp and then made way late on - before the madness

8. Oliver Arblaster 6
The boyhood Blade made his first Premier League start at Bramall Lane and it ended with a standing ovation after he made way with his side 3-1 up with five minutes to go. He did well to last that long, after taking a real whack from teammate Robinson when both men threw themselves bravely in the way to block the ball, and later did well defensively again to keep out Iwobi's effort

9. Gus Hamer 6
On the scoresheet last time out at Bournemouth and was closest from a United perspective to doing so in the first half here, curling just wide of the far post late in a 45 minutes that saw both sides offer little by way of attacking threat. Picked out Brereton Diaz with a peach of a deep cross to send Bramall Lane barmy. Later picked up his customary booking for a late challenge

10. Oli McBurnie 8
Kept his place from the south coast after a display which showed his importance to this United side and he demonstrated it again here with a battling display against Fulham's centre-halves, culminating in a moment of class to pick out Brereton Diaz with a sublime outside-of-the-foot cross for the opening goal. Added a goal later of his own after unselfish work from Brereton Diaz before seeing a second ruled out for offside - which proved to be decisive

11. Ben Brereton Diaz 8
Called up by Chile over the international break and looked lively early on in his battles with the Fulham defence, although he couldn't quite get a touch on the bouncing ball in the Fulham area as it bounced all over and begged to be converted. Was in the right spot to get on the end of McBurnie's cross and made no mistake with his finish, before repaying the favour for his strike partner

12. Subs: Auston Trusty 4
Came on for Souza and went left back but struggled to get up to speed with the pace of the game and had a difficult time of it against Fulham's wide threats, including Adama Traore. Also used: Norwood, McAtee n'/a




https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-player-ratings-from-dramatic-fulham-draw-as-fans-fume-at-corrupt-premier-league-gallery-4574783

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Sheff Utd 3-3 Fulham: Rodrigo Muniz's injury-time bicycle kick earns visitors late draw in thriller
Report and free match highlights as Fulham came back to claim a 3-3 draw at Sheffield United in a thrilling encounter; two Ben Brereton Diaz goals and an Oli McBurnie strike put hosts in control; Joao Palhinha and Bobby Decordova-Reid pegged back Blades before Rodrigo Muniz scored stunner

Rodrigo Muniz produced a stunning injury-time bicycle kick to earn Fulham a thrilling 3-3 draw as Sheffield United missed the chance to earn a vital Premier League win.

Returning from the international break, the Blades faced a stark reality - overturn an eight-point gap and the worst goal difference in the league in their final 10 matches or face an immediate return to the Championship.

Chris Wilder's side were well on their way to reducing that deficit after two Ben Brereton Diaz goals and another from Oli McBurnie.

But, after Joao Palhinha's header, Bobby Decordova-Reid reduced the deficit to just one goal with a rasping strike from the edge of the box.

The Blades began to drop closer towards their own goal as full-time neared and they were punished by Muniz's brilliant strike in the third of a remarkable 14 minutes of added time.

The result leaves United seven points from safety and, having been so close to just their fourth win of the season, Wilder faces a tough job to rouse his side for Thursday's daunting trip to Anfield.

Player ratings
Sheffield United: Grbic (6), Holgate (6), Ahmedhodzic (6), Robinson (6), Bogle (6), Vinicius (6), Arblaster (7), Hamer (7), Osborn (6), McBurnie (8), Brereton Diaz (9).

Subs: Trusty (n/a), Norwood (n/a), McAtee (n/a).

Fukham: Leno (6), Castagne (6), Tosin (5), Bassey (5), Robinson (7), Palhinha (7), Lukic (6), Iwobi (6), Pereira (7), Willian (7), Muniz (8).

Subs: Traore (7), Cairney (7), Decordova-Reid (7), Tete (n/a), Jimenez (n/a).

Player of the match: Ben Brereton Diaz

How Blades blew win in dramatic finale
If Sheffield United do succumb to relegation, they may look back on the past two weeks as the period in which they blew their lingering hopes of survival.

After entering March's break on the back of throwing away a two-goal lead at Bournemouth, they repeated the trick against Fulham in even more heartbreaking fashion.

If they had held onto victory in those two fixtures, Wilder's outfit would be just three points from safety, albeit the deficit is essentially four given their horrendous goal difference. Instead, they remain rooted to the foot of the table.

The first half at Bramall Lane gave no indication of what was to come, with Ivo Grbic producing a sharp save to tip Muniz's poked effort onto the post in the only incident of note.

But the second half was one of the most dramatic of the season, starting with Muniz again striking the post with a looping header.

Fulham's opener felt like a matter of time - until Tosin Adarabioyo lost the ball in his own half, allowing McBurnie to cross for Brereton Diaz to tap in the opener.

Palhinha levelled from a corner four minutes later after some wretched Blades defending, before Brereton Diaz returned the favour for his strike partner, firing in a low cross for McBurnie to restore their side's lead.

Brereton Diaz then bundled in Gustavo Hamer's deep cross just two minutes later, with the goal surviving a VAR check for handball, while there was also a review for violent conduct after the forward, McBurnie and Bernd Leno all clashed in the aftermath.

United thought they had secured the points when McBurnie poked in his second after more dreadful Fulham defending, but the goal was rightly disallowed for offside against Vinicius Souza.

Moments later, Decordova-Reid fired in from the edge of the area to spark nervousness among the hosts - and their worst fears were realised when Muniz produced a moment of magic.

McBurnie-Brereton Diaz partnership comes too late for Blades
The good news for Sheffield United is that Chris Wilder appears to have finally found an attacking set-up that works.

After trialling Will Osula, James McAtee and Rhian Brewster in attacking roles - to little success - Oli McBurnie and Ben Brereton Diaz are forming an effective strike partnership.

The powerful duo allow the Blades to be more direct. United attempted 75 long passes - their most of the season - at Bournemouth last time out and totalled nearly 50 against Fulham.

That McBurnie and Brereton Diaz both claimed assists to go with their goals shows how much they troubled Fulham's back four.

But the bad news for United is that time may be running out. With just nine games to play, they are seven points from safety. Opta still rate their chances of escaping relegation at less than two per cent.

Too little, too late.

Wilder laments 'typical poor goals'
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told Sky Sports: "It had everything.

"We had to make sure we had a foothold in the game and we had been out of the game at half-time in the last four home games, so were happy to get off to a good start against a really good team on a good run.

"We were the better team in the period where we scored. We got ourselves in front but conceded some poor goals yet again, which is typical of where we are.

"To score two goals at Bournemouth and draw, and three today and only come away with a draw is a disappointing aspect.

"The goal that was disallowed, that would've taken us to 4-1 and that was a crucial moment. If we had got that goal, we would've gone on to win but we conceded straight away and all the momentum went Fulham's way.

"The ammunition Marco [Silva] has at his disposal, they are players that can impact the game, but because of the injuries and the strength of the squads, we weren't able to do that.

"When you go to 3-3, and you have to suffer the disappointment of being pegged back, and everyone thought there was going to be only one winner, so credit to our players for hanging in there."

Muniz transformation has taken everyone by surprise



Spare a thought for Armando Broja. After an underwhelming first half of the season, the Chelsea striker joined Fulham on loan in January in search of form and fitness.

The pathway seemed clear, with Fulham's strikers having a combined total of just five Premier League goals before Broja's arrival - all scored by Raul Jimenez.

But Broja can't have envisioned Rodrigo Muniz's remarkable transformation. Before the Albania international moved to Craven Cottage, Muniz had never scored a Premier League goal.

Nothing Muniz had done previously hinted at his rise. Last season, he scored twice for Middlesbrough in the Championship.

But since February, no player has scored more Premier League goals than the 22-year-old's eight.

Against Sheffield United, he showed perfectly why he is currently one of the most-feared strikers in the top flight, twice striking the post before producing an exquisite piece of skill to claim a point - just when his team needed it.

Meanwhile, Broja's wait for his first Fulham start goes on. In truth, he can have no complaints.

Silva: We refused to lose
Fulham head coach Marco Silva said: "I have to say it was an exciting game for the people who were here, but I have to be honest, it was a disappointing result for us.

"When you are dominant from the first minute like we were, the team who created more clear chances to win the game, it is disappointing.

"Of course the reaction as a team, it was fantastic. We refused to lose this game because of the way we dominated.

"We showed the quality to come back from 3-1, scoring two great goals and creating more chances even to win the game in the last minutes."

Opta stats: Muniz's fine form continues
    Ben Brereton Diaz has been involved in five goals (scored four, assisted one) in his five Premier League matches for Sheffield United since joining the club in January.
    Sheffield United's Oli McBurnie scored and assisted in a Premier League match for the first time in his 92nd appearance in the competition.
    Rodrigo Muniz's equaliser was his eighth Premier League goal of the season, with all coming in his last eight games in the competition. Overall, he's been involved in nine Premier League goals this campaign (scored 8, assisted 1), more than any other Fulham player.
    Fulham have only won one of their last 14 Premier League away matches (D5 L8). In fact, only Sheffield United have picked up fewer wins on the road (1) than Fulham's two in the Premier League this season.

What's next?
Sheffield United now face two 'big-six' teams back-to-back, travelling to Anfield to face Liverpool on Thursday night, kick-off at 7.30pm. The Blades then host Chelsea at Bramall Lane a week on Sunday, kick-off at 5.30pm.

Fulham travel to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night, kick-off at 7.30pm - before hosting Newcastle at Craven Cottage next Saturday, kick-off at 3pm.



https://www.skysports.com/football/sheffield-united-vs-fulham/report/482889

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Fulham pull off superb comeback at Sheffield United
Rodrigo Muniz's stoppage-time overhead kick dramatically clinched a point for Fulham, who came back from 3-1 down at Bramall Lane.

Four of the game's six goals were scored in the space of 12 second-half minutes.

Joao Palhinha equalised soon after Ben Brereton Diaz's opener, but two goals in as many minutes put the Blades in control, with Oli McBurnie restoring their lead and Brereton Diaz netting again.

But Bobby De Cordova-Reid pulled a goal back and striker Muniz spectacularly hauled Fulham level with his eighth goal in as many matches.

Brereton Diaz's first was a tidy finish after being set up by McBurnie after Tosin Adarabioyo had given the ball away.

Palhinha headed home Andreas Pereira's corner, but Fulham immediately switched off at the back again and Brereton Diaz got behind their defence to tee up McBurnie for a simple finish and then scored again by heading in Gustavo Hamer's cross.

It seemed to be 4-1 after McBurnie fired into the bottom corner, but the goal was ruled out after VAR established that Vini Souza was offside in the build-up.

Fulham capitalised on the lifeline, with De Cordova-Reid thumping home from 25 yards and Muniz levelling in emphatic fashion.
Fulham: Leno, Castagne (Tete 85), Bassey, Adarabioyo (Jimenez 85), Robinson, Lukic (Traore 62), Palhinha, Iwobi (Cairney 74), Pereira (De Cordova-Reid 85), Willian, Muniz.
Subs not used: Rodak, Ream, Reed, Wilson.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/football-sheffield-utd-report-300324

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Sheffield United 3 Fulham 3: Dead-and-buried Blades show spirit aplenty but dozy defending cancels it out
Sheffield United are bottom of the Premier League table because they lack a lot of things but against Fulham on Saturday, nobody could question their spirit.

The Blades' recent home form – four games lost by a 21-2 aggregate has been absolutely horrendous, the way the roof has caved in when they conceded goals alarming.

In the South Yorkshire sunshine they rolled their sleeves up to bolt the door shut in a reassuringly dull first half, took the lead in a frenetic second, came back from a demoralisingly poor equaliser, thought they had made it 4-1 and ended up drawing 3-3.

He has to stop himself admitting it when he speaks to the media, but even Blades manager Chris Wilder knows his team and dead and buried when it comes to Premier League survival.

That they did not play like it – in terms of effort, rather than the poor quality of snippets of their otherwise admirable defending – should be a given but these are human beings, after all and to play as they did was a credit to their professionalism.

The first-half was pretty much a non-event, which was just what the Blades needed at Bramall Lane.

Fulham hit a post in the 38th minute when Ivo Grbic tipped a Rodrigo Muniz shot Anel Ahemdhodzic might have smothered slightly onto his woodwork. Muniz struck it again three minutes into the second half, looping an Andreas Pereira cross onto the back post.

That apart, the hosts were happy to concede possession and concentrate on defending. It was the first time since Wilder's first win of his second spell as manager – 1-0 over Brentford on December 9 – that they had made it to the break without conceding at Bramall Lane.

Ben Brereton Diaz was a lively presence but it took until the second half for anything to come off for him. When a sixth-minute free-kick bounced around the Fulham area, he was unable to get on the end, and when he attempted a backheel when picked out by Grbic, the crowd groaned at his failure to make contact.

Not that it mattered much: had the furthest man forward done so it would have gone into an empty patch of grass, anyway.

Mason Holgate, in his first game back since a horror tackle against Brighton and Hove Albion, put in a good tackle on Willian after the winger had got past him in the penalty area and Gustavo Hamer curled a shot wide seconds before the whistle but there was far more perspiration than inspiration.

Fulham carried more punch after the break, but the Blades kept throwing themselves in the way, Jack Robinson and Oliver Arblaster in the line of Sasa Lukic, with the defender making the block but catching his teenage team-mate has they fell to earth.

Arblaster was back on the pitch after lengthy treatment to block Alex Iwobi's effort.

And then the game went nuts.

When Ben Osborn spread the ball out to Oli McBurnie, Diaz got his reward, keeping his composure to finish a lovely outside-of-the-boot cross.

That was 58 minutes in, but with four Fulham had been gifted an equaliser, Joao Palhinha left free to head in a corner.

The Blades and especially their front two, refused to take the hint, a quick free-kick finding Brereton Diaz to pay back McBurnie.

The kerfuffle to regain the ball got the video assistant referee all excited but try as he might, Andy Madley could not find anyone to send off as he scrolled the footage back and forth whilst the home fans slow-handclapped their frustration. It would be a theme of the second half.

It looked like McBurnie had made it 4-1 after the ball ping-ponged around the area but eventually VAR decided it was offside.

So instead of signing, sealing and delivering the three points, the Blades conceded twice in quick succession.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid used his first touch afer coming on as a substitute to control the ball, his second to find the net.

Then in the third of what turned out to be 16 added minutes (we were promised a minimum of 14), Muniz stood still as Holgate just drifted far enough away from Muniz that he was able to score an acrobatic volley.

It was Fulham who pressed from there, and yet more poor Sheffield United defending should have seen them lose with one of the last touches but when Willian picked out the unmarked Tom Cairney on the edge of the area from a free-kick, he shot straight at Grbic.

A draw was the least the Blades' effort deserved. The less said about their defensive concentration, the better.

Sheffield United: Grbic; Bogle, Holgate, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Osborn; Souza (Trusty 85), Arblaster (Norwood 85), Hamer; McBurnie (McAtee 89), Brereton.

Unused substitutes: Foderingham, Slimane, Larouci, Curtis, Osula, Brooks.

Fulham: Leno; Castagne (Tete 85), Tosin, Bassey, Robinson; Palhinha, Lukic (Traore 63); Iwobi (Cairney 74), Pereira (De Cordova-Reid 85), Willian; Carvalho.

Unused substitutes: Rodak, Reed, Wilson, Ream.

Referee: T Robinson (West Sussex).



https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-3-fulham-3-dead-and-buried-blades-show-spirit-aplenty-but-dozy-defending-cancels-it-out-4574790

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Rodrigo Muniz helps Fulham salvage point at Sheff Utd after six-goal thriller
Rodrigo Muniz's superb stoppage-time equaliser denied Sheffield United a rare Premier League win in a six-goal thriller against Fulham at Bramall Lane.

Brazilian striker Muniz volleyed home in the third minute of added time to make it 3-3 and cap a pulsating second half which followed a tame and goalless first period.

Ben Brereton Diaz put the Blades in front and after Joao Palhinha had headed Fulham level, the Chile striker set up Oli McBurnie for the home side's second before heading the Blades into a 3-1 lead.

But substitute Bobby Cordova-Reid reduced the deficit for Fulham with his first touch in the 86th minute and Muniz acrobatically silenced the home fans with his eighth goal in as many top-flight appearances.

The Blades, who had shipped the most goals in Premier League history after 28 matches, defended doggedly to ensure the first 45 minutes ended 0-0.

They became the first English League club to concede at least five goals in four consecutive home games in all competitions when losing 6-0 to Arsenal earlier this month.

Muniz went close to breaking the deadlock for Fulham when his sliding 38th-minute effort was pushed on to a post by Blades goalkeeper Ivo Grbic.

The Brazilian hit the woodwork again at the start of the second period as his towering header from Andreas Pereira's deep cross bounced off the far post.

The Blades then scored the opening goal out of nowhere. Ben Osborn set McBurnie free down the left and the latter's superb ball in across the face of goal was swept home by Brereton Diaz in the 58th minute.

The Blades' lead lasted only four minutes as the unmarked Palhinha's looping header from Pereira's near-post corner drew Fulham level.

But the Blades then struck twice in as many minutes to open up a two-goal lead.

Brereton Diaz laid one on a plate for McBurnie to side-foot home from close range and the Bramall Lane roof was raised when the Chile striker headed home Gustavo Hamer's curling cross at the far post.

A confusing VAR check immediately after the goal ruled Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno had not struck Brereton Diaz after the striker had fallen over the goal-line.

It appeared to get even better for the Blades before VAR ruled out McBurnie's effort after Fulham had failed to clear their area as Vini Souza was ruled offside.

The Cottagers then set up a grandstand finish after Cordova-Reid fired home a low shot from the edge of the box after replacing Pereira with four minutes left.

And in the third of 14 minutes of stoppage time, Muniz launched himself at Adama Traore's cross to smash home Fulham's equaliser.



https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/rodrigo-muniz-helps-fulham-salvage-172848380.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jLm5ld3Nub3cuY28udWsv&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAE6-VqlHP8kwED4vQ5ANlHKW-3CmEW6i_gWkMR1r_b0pwsIDiXr3RSpP15-Vnu-5IC_BeTZ9HPTRi1qCgx-7jXn2euDZ_fHsatv_DTteXCpvrbZbeuyCiEbO3_ameKsxxAU_EszY_Cg3tpLJVOuYK6KnEk0y_On2XnO6wMqBacTe

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Muniz injury time bicycle kick goal salvages Fulham draw with Sheffield United



SHEFFIELD, England (AP) — Rodrigo Muniz pulled off a superb bicycle kick goal in stoppage time for Fulham to salvage a 3-3 draw with last-placed Sheffield United in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Muniz was the last highlight of an intense second half full of twists and turns at Bramall Lane.

The Brazilian striker volleyed home from Adama Traore's cross in the third minute of 14 minutes of added time.

Sheffield United let slip a victory that looked almost sealed, having led 3-1 at the 86th minute.

After a goalless first half, Sheffield striker Ben Brereton Diaz put the hosts ahead.

Joao Palhinha leveled, and Brereton Diaz set up Oli McBurnie for the home side's second goal, and headed Sheffield to 3-1.

Fulham substitute Bobby Cordova-Reid reduced the deficit in the 86th, and Muniz salvaged a point with his acrobatic kick.

Sheffield was seven points from safety. The club has conceded 24 goals in its past five home matches in all competitions.

Fulham was in 12th place.



https://apnews.com/article/sheffield-fulham-premier-league-muniz-fc5368ff7844e993608b885b920b110c

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Muniz caps fine Fulham fightback
A sensational scissor kick from Rodrigo Muniz completed a fabulous Fulham fightback as the Whites battled back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 at rock bottom Sheffield United this afternoon.

The Blades looked set for only their fourth league win of the season when Ben Brereton Diaz punished some comical defending to bag a brace and played in his strike partner Oli McBurnie for a third. Crucially, McBurnie had a potential second ruled out by VAR for offside against Vinicius Sousa – giving Fulham feint hope of a comeback.

That the visitors were so far adrift would have been a surprise to anyone who witnessed Marco Silva's side utterly dominate the first half. Muniz went closest to breaking the deadlock but saw his snapshot pushed onto the post by Ivo Grbic seven minutes before half time. The Brazilian hit the woodwork again early in the second half when a far post header from Andreas Pereira's bounced off the hear post to safety.

The Blades took the lead against the run of play just before the hour mark. Ben Osborn intercepted a poor pass from Tosin Adarabioyo and released McBurnie down the left flank. Brereton Diaz gleefully buried the Scottish striker's ball across the box to the delight of the home fans.

But United's lead lasted barely four minutes. Joao Palhinha escaped the attention of his marker to head home a Pereira corner – only for Fulham to lose the plot at the back once more. They conceded two soft goals in the space of two minutes. The Cottagers were caught unawares when a quick free kick allowed Brereton Diaz to set up McBurnie from close range and the Bramall Lane regulars were in dreamland when Brereton Diaz headed Gus Hamer's inch perfect cross past Bernd Leno to make it 3-1.

Fulham looked dead and buried – but substitute Bobby De Cordova-Reid set up a grandstand finish by lashing home Tom Cairney's cute pass with four minutes to play. Muniz made his mark four minutes into an unfathomable fourteen minutes of stoppage time when he conjured up an astonishingly acrobatic equaliser from Adama Traoré's cross. Cairney had a shot blocked at the death as this unexpectedly epic encounter ended all square.

SHEFFIELD UNITED (3-5-2): Grbic; Holgate, Ahmedhozic, J. Robinson; Bogle, Osborn, Sousa (Trusty 85), Hamer, Arblaster (Norwood 85); McBurnie (McAtee 90), Brereton Diaz. Subs (not used): Foderingham, Slimane, Larouci, Curtis, Osula, Brooks.

BOOKED: Holgate, Norwood, Hamer, Bogle.

GOALS: Brereton Diaz (58, 70), McBurnie (68).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne (Tete 85), A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Bassey; Palhinha, Lukic (Traore 63): Iwobi (Cairney 74), Willian, Pereira (De Cordova-Reid 85); Muniz. Subs (not used): Rodak, Ream, Reed, Wilson.

BOOKED: Bassey.

GOALS: Palhinha (62), De Cordova-Reid (86), Muniz (90+3).

REFEREE: Tim Robinson (West Sussex).

ATTENDANCE: 30,010.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/03/muniz-caps-fine-fulham-fightback/

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Why Oli McBurnie's second Sheffield United goal v Fulham was disallowed
Sheffield United felt hard done to today as they drew with Fulham despite being 3-1 up at Bramall Lane.

The Blades kept in the game at half-time before going for it a bit more after the break and catching the Cottagers off guard to go 3-1 up in no time at all.

Things looked like they'd got even better for United as well when Oli McBurnie slid the ball into the bottom corner following a bit of a goal mouth scramble.

However, McBurnie and United's joy was short lived as the VAR intervened and ruled that Vini Souza was offside in the build up to the goal.

At the time, it appeared an incredibly harsh decision. And while Sheffield United fans might complain on social media about the call, the replays do show it might well be the correct decision.

Vini Souza correctly ruled offside as Oli McBurnie has second goal disallowed
The VAR spent a while looking at this one but in the end, despite the argument against the rule being a bit harsh, it looks like it was the right call.

As the ball dropped in the area there were a couple of movements and players in and around the action.

However, the crucial moment came as the ball was initially cleared to McBurnie and rebounded off him back towards goal. From here, Vini Souza is coming back from an offside position and as he goes in for the challenge, he appears to get the slightest of touches on the ball to get it back towards McBurnie to fire home.

While harsh on the surface and a matter of millimetres in terms of the VAR offside lines, it does look like in the end, they got it right.

That's not to say we don't think the decision is borderline ridiculous and that each passing week seems to bring up another talking point with referees.

But by the letter of the law, for now anyway, it looks like McBurnie's goal was rightly ruled out.



https://www.sheffieldunited.news/news/why-oli-mcburnies-second-sheffield-united-goal-v-fulham-was-disallowed/