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Fulham advanced to the FA Cup quarter finals for the first time in 13 years thanks to goals from Joao Palhinha and David Solomon.
The Craven Cottage side defeated Leeds 2-0 at home to go to the last eight of the cup competition after yet another good performance under Marco Silva.
Palhinha’s first-half 30-yard screamer put Fulham ahead in the 21st minute, and Solomon scored his fourth consecutive goal from the edge of the penalty area in the 56th minute of the second half.
The two of spectacular goals resulted in the first loss for new Leeds manager Javi Gracia, who will now focus on keeping the Whites in the Premier League with the team just one point above the drop zone.
At Craven Cottage, Leeds had several chances, including a disputed first-half goal that was disallowed. Nonetheless, the Spaniard will be heartened by certain aspects of the performance.
Silva’s Fulham Continue to Make Strides this Season
Marco Silva’s Fulham are unbeaten in their past seven games in all competitions and are hoping to win the FA Cup for the first time in their history.
Georginio Rutter’s tap-in at the back post in the fifteenth minute of the first-ever FA Cup match between these two teams gave Leeds the impression that they had taken the lead. VAR did not intervene after referee Chris Kavanagh ruled it out for a soft-looking push by Weston McKennie on Harry Wilson as he flicked on from the corner.
Six minutes later, Palhinha’s magnificent goal gave Fulham the lead. The midfielder stole the ball from Marc Roca and blasted a long-range strike past Illan Meslier with his first attempt.
It was Fulham’s sole attempt on goal in the first half, but Leeds came close to tying the game right before the break when Rutter’s header hit the inside of the post.
Wilfried Gnonto was denied by Marek Rodak’s low save early in the second half, while Rutter also troubled the Fulham goalkeeper.
Solomon’s Stunner Steals the Show
But the home team’s momentum was interrupted in the 56th minute when the in-form Solomon bent a shot past Meslier.
The loaned Shakhtar Donetsk winger completed a one-two with the returning Aleksandar Mitrovic to reward Silva for starting him after scoring in his previous three substitute appearances.
Leeds failed to reach the FA Cup quarterfinals for the first time in 20 years after wasting a flurry of late opportunities, including Mitrovic’s offside-ruled header.
In the Premier League next Monday Fulham will face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium with kickoff at 8pm.
Both of the sides have recently played Championship football and now find themselves flying high in the top flight and could sense the possibility of playing European football next season. A win will be crucial if either side are to achieve that hope.
Leeds will face Chelsea on Saturday at 3pm at Stamford Bridge in their next crucial Premier League fixture.
The Yorkshire side are just a single point above the relegation zone after last weekend’s win over Southampton but this evening’s defeat to Fulham will have not done any newly found confidence too much good. The club defeated Chelsea 3-0 in their previous meeting with the side and another result like that would go a huge way to escaping relegation for a second year running.
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