Joao Palhinha scored a screamer to help Fulham produce one of the most comfortable football results of the weekend in the FA Cup. Palhinha’s 30-yard screamer in the 21st minute put Fulham ahead, and it was followed by another spectacular goal in the second half (56) when Solomon curled in from the edge of the box to score for the fourth consecutive game. Leeds suffered their first defeat under new manager Javi Gracia, who will now focus on keeping the Whites in the Premier League despite the team being just one point above the relegation zone.
Leeds had several chances at Craven Cottage, including a controversial disallowed first-half goal, so the Spaniard will be delighted by some aspects of the performance. Meanwhile, Fulham’s season is progressing well, with Marco Silva’s team now unbeaten in their previous seven games in all competitions and dreaming of lifting the FA Cup for the first time.
Leeds thought they had taken the lead in the 15th minute of their first-ever FA Cup clash when Georginio Rutter poked in at the back post. Nevertheless, with VAR not interfering, referee Chris Kavanagh ruled it out for a soft-looking push by Weston McKennie on Harry Wilson as he flicked on from the corner. Palhinha’s spectacular shot put Fulham ahead six minutes later. The midfielder beat Marc Roca to the ball and blasted a first-time curling shot from distance past a hapless Illan Meslier.
Fulham’s only attempt on target in the first half came shortly before the interval when Rutter’s stoppage-time header hit the inside of the post. The visitors came out firing in the second half, with Marek Rodak saving low from Wilfried Gnonto and Rutter also testing the Fulham goalkeeper.
But the hosts’ momentum was interrupted in the 56th minute as the in-form Solomon twisted one past Meslier. To reward Silva for starting him after scoring in his last three substitute outings, the on-loan Shakhtar Donetsk winger executed a nice one-two with the returning Aleksandar Mitrovic. Mitrovic then had a header ruled down for offside as Leeds missed out on reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 20 years.
After appealing to the fourth official when Palhinha’s magnificent opening went in, Fulham head coach Marco Silva claimed he missed it. Palhinha, a crucial player for the Cottagers this season, has been suspended for Fulham’s next two Premier League games after receiving his tenth yellow card of the season.
“I’ve never seen it. I was talking with the fourth official about a possible foul, but I haven’t seen it yet,” Fulham head coach Marco Silva said. “Of course, he’ll be missed by us. He is a crucial player for us in many aspects of the game, but somebody will come in and do a good job.”
“In this sport, we have a lot of goals. We are humble enough to recognize that we are not favorites; the favorites are other teams. But we want to chase the competition and each time you play in this competition it is always to go through and play with full ambition,” he added.
“I’m quite disappointed because we were unfortunate. We created numerous opportunities; while we are not clinical, we did not finish with poise,” Leeds boss Javi Gracia said. “Yet, in my perspective, we scored a goal that was disallowed because it was very, very soft. We were on the verge of changing the game’s dynamic, but if you don’t score after, you don’t have any chances.”
Fulham is next in action on Monday Night Football when they face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium; kick-off 8 pm. Leeds plays Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in the Premier League; kick-off 3 pm.
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