|
|
Fulham 2-1 Everton: Duff Strike Denies Everton A Point
More of a footballing battle than banquet, but a Damien Duff strike serves up a home win.
Sep 13, 2009 2:40:19 PM
Two of the
bottom three met at Craven Cottage for the final of this weekend’s Premier
League fixtures. Both started the day on three points with Portsmouth the only side having accumulated an
inferior total. Thus, the pressure was already on to show signs of regaining
the form that propelled both teams to a top seven finish last term.
Fulham handed a debut to 23-year-old David Stockdale after veteran keeper Mark Schwarzer was ruled out with a neck injury he suffered whilst on duty for his country. Striker Andrew Johnson was deemed fit enough to face his former employers as were both Bobby Zamora and playmaker Danny Murphy. Everton handed a start to Brazilian front man Jo, who replaced the injured Louis Saha. New acquisitions John Heitinga and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov had to settle for a place on the bench.
With neither side able to retain any meaningful possession, the opening fifteen minutes offered very little in entertainment. An early Damien Duff snap-shot was comfortably held by Tim Howard and the American goalkeeper also watched an effort from fellow country man Clint Dempsey pass wide of his right hand post.
It was Everton youngster Jack Rodwell next in line to muster an attempt on goal, but he saw his deflected effort beaten away by Stockdale as Fulham cleared the miniature goal mouth scramble that ensued.
The aerial threat of Johnson forced Sylvain Distin into giving away a corner to the hosts. The resultant kick picking out Dempsey whose header flashed wide. A silly Danny Murphy foul after good work by Jo offered Leighton Baines the chance to strike, but the wall did its job and his free-kick rebounded off and out for a corner.
To continue the alternating pattern of goal attempts, Duff crossed for fellow wide-man Dempsey, but he again headed wide of the target. His ranged effort moments later could only find Howard’s open palms.
With fifteen minutes of the half remaining, Fulham skipper Danny Murphy received a booking for barging into Steven Pienaar. The left foot of Baines dispatched a curling cross into the box and Tim Cahill duly dispatched it goal wards to notch up his first of the season. It was classic Cahill.
Leading up to half-time, another ball into the Fulham box, this time by Pienaar, found its way to Leon Osman, but Aaron Hughes rescued his side with a well timed intervention. The one-man strike force that was Demspey conjured up a couple of further half-chances just but it was David Moyes’ men that went in the happier at the break.
Fulham started the second-half with a little more zest, Johnson spinning well to conjure up a strike, but Howard reacted promptly to negate his former teammate’s attempt. An improving home side then released Dempsey on the left wing. He crossed from the byeline, the bouncing ball ending up at the feet of Duff, but the Irishman couldn’t keep his shot down.
With the pressure mounting, Danny Murphy struck a free kick from just outside the Everton box. It fortunately fell to Paul Konchesky whose powerful drive took a wicked deflection off Distin and into the net. It was to get worse for Everton when Dickson Etuhu’s heavy challenge on Phil Neville saw the Blues skipper forcibly withdrawn on a stretcher and replaced by new boy Heitinga.
The introduction of Marouane Fellaini enabled the Merseysiders to wrestle the ball away from their opponents for a brief spell of possession. This turned out to be a false dawn and Fulham were soon back in the ascendancy when a superb run and strike from Duff handed his side the lead. Johnson’s clever run across the area allowed the space to open up for the tricky winger to fire high into the far corner.
Having reversed their fortunes, Fulham almost paid immediately for some sloppy defending, but neither Fellaini or Joseph Yobo could find the mark. With Everton desperately seeking a goal late on, Howard was caught wandering, almost allowing Dempsey to add a third. It truly was a game of two halves, with Fulham making the most of their possession. Roy Hogdson’s words at half time clearly had the desired effect and Fulham can come away satisfied with a good second period performance having won their first three points since the opening day.
After a promising first half David Moyes’ side created very little in the second and this will no doubt worry the Blue’s boss whose side now have a tricky run of fixtures to navigate.
Adrian Fisk, Goal.com
For more on Americans abroad, visit Goal.com's dedicated page
Fulham handed a debut to 23-year-old David Stockdale after veteran keeper Mark Schwarzer was ruled out with a neck injury he suffered whilst on duty for his country. Striker Andrew Johnson was deemed fit enough to face his former employers as were both Bobby Zamora and playmaker Danny Murphy. Everton handed a start to Brazilian front man Jo, who replaced the injured Louis Saha. New acquisitions John Heitinga and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov had to settle for a place on the bench.
With neither side able to retain any meaningful possession, the opening fifteen minutes offered very little in entertainment. An early Damien Duff snap-shot was comfortably held by Tim Howard and the American goalkeeper also watched an effort from fellow country man Clint Dempsey pass wide of his right hand post.
It was Everton youngster Jack Rodwell next in line to muster an attempt on goal, but he saw his deflected effort beaten away by Stockdale as Fulham cleared the miniature goal mouth scramble that ensued.
The aerial threat of Johnson forced Sylvain Distin into giving away a corner to the hosts. The resultant kick picking out Dempsey whose header flashed wide. A silly Danny Murphy foul after good work by Jo offered Leighton Baines the chance to strike, but the wall did its job and his free-kick rebounded off and out for a corner.
To continue the alternating pattern of goal attempts, Duff crossed for fellow wide-man Dempsey, but he again headed wide of the target. His ranged effort moments later could only find Howard’s open palms.
With fifteen minutes of the half remaining, Fulham skipper Danny Murphy received a booking for barging into Steven Pienaar. The left foot of Baines dispatched a curling cross into the box and Tim Cahill duly dispatched it goal wards to notch up his first of the season. It was classic Cahill.
Leading up to half-time, another ball into the Fulham box, this time by Pienaar, found its way to Leon Osman, but Aaron Hughes rescued his side with a well timed intervention. The one-man strike force that was Demspey conjured up a couple of further half-chances just but it was David Moyes’ men that went in the happier at the break.
Fulham started the second-half with a little more zest, Johnson spinning well to conjure up a strike, but Howard reacted promptly to negate his former teammate’s attempt. An improving home side then released Dempsey on the left wing. He crossed from the byeline, the bouncing ball ending up at the feet of Duff, but the Irishman couldn’t keep his shot down.
With the pressure mounting, Danny Murphy struck a free kick from just outside the Everton box. It fortunately fell to Paul Konchesky whose powerful drive took a wicked deflection off Distin and into the net. It was to get worse for Everton when Dickson Etuhu’s heavy challenge on Phil Neville saw the Blues skipper forcibly withdrawn on a stretcher and replaced by new boy Heitinga.
The introduction of Marouane Fellaini enabled the Merseysiders to wrestle the ball away from their opponents for a brief spell of possession. This turned out to be a false dawn and Fulham were soon back in the ascendancy when a superb run and strike from Duff handed his side the lead. Johnson’s clever run across the area allowed the space to open up for the tricky winger to fire high into the far corner.
Having reversed their fortunes, Fulham almost paid immediately for some sloppy defending, but neither Fellaini or Joseph Yobo could find the mark. With Everton desperately seeking a goal late on, Howard was caught wandering, almost allowing Dempsey to add a third. It truly was a game of two halves, with Fulham making the most of their possession. Roy Hogdson’s words at half time clearly had the desired effect and Fulham can come away satisfied with a good second period performance having won their first three points since the opening day.
After a promising first half David Moyes’ side created very little in the second and this will no doubt worry the Blue’s boss whose side now have a tricky run of fixtures to navigate.
Adrian Fisk, Goal.com
For more on Americans abroad, visit Goal.com's dedicated page
Inside Goal.Com
-
RIGG: Anelka struggling against the current in Shanghai
Nicolas Anelka went against the grain when he moved to Shanghai. Now he's finding that coaching and gelling tactically is like swimming against the tide.
-
ROGERS: Bradley should command a bidding war among Serie A teams
Chievo is currently shopping the American midfielder and several Italian clubs have shown interest.
-
ISOLA: Neymar-led Brazil should be considered the 2014 WC favorite
Neymar was brilliant as Brazil easily handled the United States with early World Cup preparations officially underway.
-
LATHAM: Mexico using summer friendlies to build depth
With World Cup qualifying to begin in June, Mexico is using three U.S.-hosted friendlies to build squad depth.
-
McCARTHY: Harrisburg springs its wildest Open Cup upset to date
The City Islanders fought back from three goals down with nine minutes to play and won the game on penalty kicks in a stunning game on a wild night for the U.S. Open Cup.