Cardiff 0-2 Fulham: Josh Onamah’s fantastic individual goal and another Neeskens Kebano free-kick stunner gives Scott Parker’s side two-goal advantage in the Championship play-off semi-final
- Fulham’s Michael Hector made a goal-saving tackle from Robert Glatzel
- The visitors took the lead just after half-time through a solo wonder goal
- Fulham’s Josh Onomah beat a host of players before calmly slotting home
- Neeskens Kebano scored a trademark free-kick in second-half stoppage-time
- The semi-final second-leg takes place at Craven Cottage on Thursday night
Without the bruising brilliance of Aleksandar Mitrovic for this visit to south Wales, Scott Parker needed someone else to find something else to keep Fulham on course for an immediate Premier League return.
At both ends of this second half against Cardiff, his call was answered in stunning style. First Josh Onomah’s magical, jinking run put Fulham in the driving seat. Then, at the death, a free kick from Neeskens Kebano has them speeding out of sight en route to Wembley.
The scoreline was perhaps harsh on Cardiff, who had their chances last night. But such is the brutal nature of play-off football.
Fulham’s Josh Onamah calmly slots past Cardiff keeper Alex Smithies in the 49th minute
The 23-year-old ran straight to Fulham manager Scott Parker after his stunning goal
Neeskens Kebano scored Fulham’s second in stoppage-time with a trademark free-kick
Kebano’s late goal means Fulham have a two-goal lead to take back to west London
Without their injured talisman, and with this play-off semi-final first leg finely poised, Fulham looked short of ideas.
That was until four minutes after the break, when Onomah collected possession on the edge of the box.
The midfielder held off one challenge before beating two more and sneaking the ball in at the near post. He ran straight to manager Scott Parker, whose smile grew wider after their brilliant second.
Mitrovic had picked up a slight knock in training so Parker made a ‘calculated’ call not to risk him here.
Fulham manager Parker has a key one-goal advantage going into the second-leg at home
The striker’s 26 goals have carried Fulham into the play-offs and without him the visitors lacked a focal point and struggled to make early inroads.
Instead it was Cardiff who should have drawn first blood. Leandro Bacuna’s shot from 20 yards was only parried into danger by Marek Rodak.
Robert Glatzel would have turned it into an empty net, but for Michael Hector’s brilliant challenge.
Fulham’s Michael Hector brilliantly denied Robert Glatzel with a goal-saving tackle on the line
The Cardiff man looked certain to score before Hector clawed the ball away from his reach
Cardiff came close again shortly after when Junior Hoilett found Glatzel, 15 yards out, only for Rodak to make sure this time.
Then, shortly before the break, a couple of Fulham chances at last.
Onomah had a close-range effort diverted wide before Tom Cairney’s curling shot from distance crept past the post.
When the breakthrough came, it was a goal worthy of winning any game.
And after taking the lead, Fulham piled on further pressure in search of a killer second. It didn’t come until stoppage time, when Cairney was fouled and Kebano curled home their second.
Neil Harris’ side have it all to do in the return fixture at Craven Cottage on Thursday evening