It took until the 94th minute of the fourth game of the season but Fulham have their first win. A spectacular goal it was too that settled a largely tame affair. It did not come from a Fulham player, but Marco Silva will not care a jot. Daniel Farke and, in particular, Gabriel Gudmundsson, certainly will.
Just when it seemed as if both sides had settled for a point, Kevin, the Brazilian winger signed by Fulham on deadline day, brought a flying fingertip save from Karl Darlow. The ensuing corner was not threatening in the least but Gudmundsson, under no pressure, stooped and met the ball with such force that Darlow had no chance of preventing the own goal that flew in from 12 yards out. Crestfallen does not do it for Leeds, whose miserable run in the capital is now nine consecutive Premier League defeats, back to May 2022.
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There had been little warning of the excitement to come. It took until the second half for anyone to test a goalkeeper and it was Leeds who took the initiative. Three minutes after the interval, Anton Stoch worked his way down the left and to the byline. He dinked in a cross to Brenden Aaronson and his first-time shot was well saved low to his left by Bernd Leno.
Spurred into action, Fulham finally tested Darlow and brought a flying save from the former Newcastle goalkeeper after 58 minutes. Having won a free-kick 25 yards out, Harry Wilson, whose move to Leeds fell through on deadline day, curled a free kick that seemed set for the top-right corner before Darlow pawed it away. With 20 minutes left, Rodrigo Muniz offered a tame downward header that was easy for Darlow.
Fulham are crying out for some sort of inspiration and so Silva brought on Emile Smith Rowe and gave a debut to Kevin. His turn and powerful shot from the edge of the area paved the way for Gudmundsson’s awful luck.