A dramatic Gabriel Gudmundsson own goal in injury-time handed Fulham a fortunate first Premier League win of the season at the expense of Leeds United.
In the fourth minute of added time at the end of a largely drab encounter, the Swedish left-back inadvertently guided an attempted headed clearance into the far corner to gift Marco Silva’s side a morale-boosting three points.
The first half at Craven Cottage had been a non-event as both sides not only struggled to create meaningful opportunities, but also sent numerous passes astray in the final third.
The best, and only, chances fell to Leeds with Dominic Calvert-Lewin sending a free header straight at Bernd Leno and Sean Longstaff’s rasping drive clipping the top of the crossbar.
Brenden Aaronson also forced Leno into a smart save after getting on the end of Anton Stach’s delivery early in the second half, before Jayden Bogle sent a tame effort into the German keeper’s arms from long range.
Fulham finally started to flex their attacking muscles midway through the second half and Karl Darlow, replacing injured Leeds first-choice keeper Lucas Perri, produced a fine stop to claw away Harry Wilson’s free-kick – Fulham’s first attempt of the entire game.
Deadline day signing Kevin had a curling drive tipped over the crossbar by Darlow – making his first Premier League start since 2021 – as the hosts increased the pressure late on.
And from the resulting corner they got their break when Gudmundsson’s error gifted them victory and took them above Leeds on five points.
Fulham analysis: Cottagers up and running… just
Fulham were seething at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago after Josh King’s first-half strike against Chelsea was wrongly disallowed for a foul in the build-up by Rodrigo Muniz.
This first league win of the season – and the manner of it – will have been the perfect antidote to that 2-0 defeat by their west London neighbours.
For a long time, though, it looked like being another frustrating afternoon for Silva’s men.
They failed to register a shot until the 58th minute and only really started to threaten Leeds’ goal once Emile Smith Rowe and Adama Traore had been introduced from the bench on the hour mark.
Smith Rowe struck the foot of the post – although the goal wouldn’t have counted after referee Craig Pawson spotted a foul in the build-up – while Traore’s raw pace caused Gudmundsson problems down the right flank.
Brazilian forward Kevin, a club-record deadline day arrival from Shakhtar, very nearly made himself an instant hero after cutting in from the left and unleashing a sumptuous, curling drive which Darlow did brilliantly to tip over.
Unfortunately for Leeds and Gudmundsson, the Swedish full-back’s late intervention proved decisive.
