Substitute strikes in stoppage time to end Marco Silva’s side’s good run and boost hopes of staying up
Lukas Nmecha’s stoppage-time goal handed Leeds United a dramatic 1-0 victory over Fulham at Elland Road on Saturday.
A match of few chances was decided by a fine finish from the German striker, who, after coming on as a substitute, got on the end of an Ethan Ampadu cross to send the home fans into raptures.
The first half had little goalmouth action, although Brenden Aaronson missed a glorious opportunity to give Leeds the lead with a wild effort that flew over the crossbar.
Despite a slow start, Fulham grew into the game and frustrated the home side at times, but their six-match unbeaten league run came to an end right at the death.
Daniel Farke’s side stay in 16th and remain eight points clear of the bottom three. Fulham, meanwhile, drop down to 10th.
How the match unfolded
There were few chances in the opening exchanges, though it was Leeds who began on the front foot, with Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno called upon to claw away several crosses from either flank.
Leeds should have gone ahead in the 23rd minute when Aaronson was sent through on goal, but he skied his shot well over the crossbar.
Despite more Fulham pressure after the break, it was Leeds who created the best opportunity, with Aaronson’s cross met by Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the front post, but the in-form striker’s prodded attempt could only find the side netting.
Pascal Struijk then headed over from a corner as Leeds went close in the final stages, but like in the reverse fixture, there was to be more drama in second-half stoppage time.
Gabriel Gudmundsson turned through his own net in the reverse fixture to hand Fulham the victory, but this time, it was Leeds who profited late on through Nmecha’s hooked finish with 91 minutes on the clock.
Leeds boost survival hopes with crucial win
After seeing their eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions ended dramatically by Newcastle United in their last league match, Leeds bounced back by reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup and followed that up with another win on home soil.
They made a quick start here, pressing high and forcing Fulham back inside their own half, and they should have found the opener through Aaronson, but he fluffed his lines at the vital moment and spurned the gilt-edged opportunity.
Leeds eased off after that, but they still did a fine job of restricting Fulham to few opportunities in their compact shape, while also continuing to sustain a threat on the counter-attack through the busy Aaronson and striker Calvert-Lewin.
That combination nearly resulted in the opening goal at the start of the second half, as Calvert-Lewin made a clever run to the front post and was found by the American, but his shot was inches wide of the mark.
A winner would arrive for Farke’s men through the substitute Nmecha, and they have created daylight between themselves and the sides at the bottom.
Leeds will hope to move further from the relegation zone when they visit Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time to face Everton.
Unbeaten run ends for Fulham after limp display
Fulham arrived at Elland Road with confidence after extending their unbeaten stretch in all competitions to seven matches with their third-round win over Championship side Middlesbrough in the FA Cup, but they struggled to impose themselves here.
Marco Silva’s side were under pressure early on, struggling to sustain possession and were largely under the cosh in the first half, as a result of a ferocious Leeds press.
Raul Jimenez and the in-form Harry Wilson failed to impose themselves, while Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic were unable to gain a foothold in the middle of the park during the opening 30 minutes, with the away side second-best up to that point.
The visitors did begin to exert more control after that, but chances were few and far between, and they could only muster one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.
Their performance contained little in the way of attacking intent, and despite a largely resolute performance from the Fulham back line, their defence was breached right at the death.
Fulham will hope to return to winning ways against Brighton & Hove Albion next Saturday, with a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United after that.
Club reports
What the managers said
Daniel Farke: “The best win of the season, we played an in-form Fulham side. Three important points and a fantastic win. We were relentless until the end. For me, the best win of the season so far. We didn’t allow them to show their quality in offence. We kept going and we were relentless and we had belief, and it was an important three points for us. We wanted to go for this win and the lads have delivered in a top-class way.
Marco Silva: “It was not a good performance from us. Leeds won the game and we have to congratulate them. We knew that it was going to be difficult with the way they play and the way they press. We were below the standards in the second half and we definitely have to do much better. We have to be unhappy with how we conceded the goal.”
PL form and fixturesKey facts
After Nmecha’s winner today, and Gabriel Gudmondsson’s own goal at Craven Cottage in September, Leeds v Fulham is just the second Premier League fixture to see both home sides score a 90th-minute winner in a single campaign after Leeds v Norwich City in 1994/95.
Leeds were caught offside eight times against Fulham, their most in a Premier League match since also being flagged offside eight times against Arsenal at Highbury in April 2004; it was the joint-most often any side has been caught offside this season (also Liverpool v Aston Villa in November).
Wilson started his 100th league game for Fulham in this match (60 in the Premier League, 40 in the Championship.