Alex Iwobi scored twice to lead Fulham to a 3-1 Premier League victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday, following a crucial error by Brighton custodian Bart Verbruggen that gave the host an early lead.
The Nigerian international got on the scoresheet in the fourth minute when Verbruggen tried to play out from the back but passed it straight to the Fulham forward who tapped into the open net.
“We know that Brighton like to play out from the back so we came up with a structure and it obviously worked for the first goal,” Iwobi told Amazon Prime. “We take it, however it goes in, a goal is a goal.”
Brighton captain Lewis Dunk said the goal should not have counted because he was fouled on the play.
“How the ref or VAR can’t see it, it is what it is,” Dunk said. “It’s annoying. If you watch the replay, it’s a clear foul, a push in my back.”
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Despite the early setback, Brighton did look the more dangerous team compared to its opponent and Carlos Baleba finally scored the equaliser in the 56th minute. Brazilain forward Joao Pedro laid the ball off with a backheel and Baleba fired in a low shot.
Marco Silva’s side retook the lead in the 79th minute on a wet and windy night at Craven Cottage when Andreas Pereira lashed in a corner which hit the back of Brighton’s Matt O’Riley and went into the net.
Iwobi scored his second eight minutes later when he latched on to a pass from Antonee Robinson and spun past a defender before shooting into the far corner.
“It was a big three points for us in a tough game,” Fulham manager Marco Silva said. “We started in the best way possible with the early goal but Brighton made it really difficult for us in the first half.
“Second half we were much better. We conceded in a moment we should prepare better for the long ball. It was a good shot from the edge of the box. Difficult game but a big three points for us.”
Fulham climbed to sixth in the league table, one point behind fifth-placed Brighton, whose manager Fabian Hurzeler watched from the stands in frustration while serving a touchline ban.
His team squandered many wonderful opportunities, including a strike from Pedro that Bernd Leno saved, while Simon Adingra fired straight at the Fulham custodian following a precise cross from Kaoru Mitoma.
“I don’t think the scoreline reflects the game,” Dunk said. “We picked ourselves up and I thought we were the better team, but that’s football.”
(with inputs from Reuters)
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