Fulham cruised past Watford at Craven Cottage, securing a spot in the FA Cup fourth round with an emphatic 4-1 victory. Goals from Rodrigo Muniz, Raul Jimenez, Joachim Andersen, and Timothy Castagne sealed the win for Marco Silva’s side, while Watford’s Rocco Vata temporarily brought the visitors level with a spectacular strike.
Dominant Start for Fulham
Alex Iwobi was instrumental in Fulham’s electric opening. The winger frequently drifted into midfield to orchestrate attacks, creating numerous opportunities against Watford’s resilient defense. In the 19th minute, Iwobi initiated a brilliant sequence, combining with Andreas Pereira before unleashing a curling shot that forced Watford’s Jonathan Bond into a crucial save.
Watford Responds Briefly
Despite Fulham’s dominance, Watford found moments of promise. Joachim Andersen’s timely defensive intervention denied Tom Ince a clear scoring chance. However, Fulham swiftly capitalized on a counterattack led by Adama Traore, whose precision cross set up Muniz for a clinical finish into the bottom-right corner.
Watford’s equalizer came from Vata, who showcased exceptional skill and pace. Picking up the ball on the left, he weaved past multiple defenders before unleashing a thunderous shot into the top-right corner, leaving Fulham’s stand-in goalkeeper Steven Benda with no chance.
Fulham Regain Control
Traore continued to wreak havoc, earning a penalty early in the second half. Raul Jimenez, subbed on for Muniz at halftime, confidently converted the spot-kick, marking his third penalty goal in two matches. Andersen extended the lead by smashing in a loose ball from a corner, and Castagne’s late header ensured a comprehensive victory.
Manager Reactions
Fulham’s Marco Silva praised Muniz’s performance, saying, “It was a proper striker’s finish. Unfortunately, he had to come off due to a back issue.” Meanwhile, Watford’s Tom Cleverley highlighted Vata’s brilliance, stating, “Rocco has an incredible knack for scoring and impressed us with his clean, powerful strike.”
For detailed match stats and highlights, visit BBC Sport or The Guardian’s Football section.
Fulham now look forward to the fourth round, aiming to build on this impressive performance.
0 comments:
Post a Comment