A stoppage-time own goal from Leeds gifted Fulham a first win of the new Premier League season at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
WATCH — Fulham vs Leeds full match replay
Big chances were at a premium in a mostly-even affair.
Fulham star signing Kevin delighted off the bench and nearly scored a beauty in stoppage only to be denied by Karl Darlow, yet the ensuing corner kick was headed into the Leeds goal by their left back Gabriel Gudmundsson.
Fulham jump into 11th with five points, one point and four places above Leeds.
A different Leeds, as Kevin gives Fulham imagination
First of all, Daniel Farke is proving that experience goes a long way, as Leeds look so much better-equipped for a promotion fight than his teams have looked in the past. There’s grit there, and the midfield has bought into the challenges they’ll need to bring to the opposition. But the opposition story here feels a bit like it did when Leeds met Everton in Week 1. Fulham’s introduction of new signing Kevin as well as former Arsenal playmaker Emile Smith Rowe helped to swing this game in their favor. Yes, the goal was quite fortunate but the Cottagers had the better attackers on the field over the final 20-30 minutes and it’s no surprise a dramatic bounce went their way. When Fulham have Kevin fit for 90 minutes and can better orchestrate their attack, the Cottagers should have no problem competing for three points way more often than struggling for one.
What’s next?
Leeds United host Wolves at 10am ET Saturday, with Fulham home to Brentford in a London derby at 3pm that day.
How to watch Fulham vs Leeds live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10 am ET, Saturday
Venue: Craven Cottage — London
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch on NBC.com
Fulham vs Leeds final score — 1-0
Gabriel Gudmundsson o.g. 90+4'
Fulham vs Leeds updates — by Nick Mendola
Leeds own goal — Fulham 1-0 Leeds
Kevin wins a free kick with a vicious strike that Karl Darlow pokes over the goal.
The ensuing corner sails to the back and meets the head of a Leeds player, Gabriel Gudmundsson, rocketing back into his own goal.
Daniel James injury
The Welsh international had been in the game for less than 10 minutes, and he’s down on the turf with what appears to be an upper leg muscular injury.
Still scoreless in the 88th minute as Wilfried Gnonto enters the game for James.
Kevin shows well early
The new Fulham signing hasn’t needed much time to show his playmaking panache.
Kevin snaps off a clever cross to the back post and a leaping Traore just misses with his header.
Kevin, Tom Cairney, and Raul Jimenez hadn’t been in the game long as Fulham’s most-recent trio of subs.
Leeds subs
Okafor and Calvert-Lewin exit for Jack Harrison and Lukas Nmecha in the 69th minute.
Fulham subs
Off go Josh King and Harry Wilson, as Emile Smith Rowe and Adama Traore enter the game at the hour mark.
Karl Darlow save
Harry Wilson takes the free kick, and Karl Darlow flies to his right to stop a harsh deflection off the wall from firing inside his goal.
0-0, 59'.
Muniz wins dangerous free kick
Some more life from Fulham in the 57th minute, as big Rodrigo Muniz wins a central free kick of Pascal Struijk.
Halftime — Fulham 0-0 Leeds United
Marco Silva’s Cottagers are yet to attempt a shot.
Leeds have more than half of the ball at Craven Cottage.
What’s wrong with Fulham? And how long until we see Kevin? Or Raul Jimenez? Or Antonee Robinson?
Total xG? 0.24, all to Leeds. USMNT winger Brenden Aaronson has been bright for the visitors.
Truly slow contest
No laziness is these updates, just not a lot going at Craven Cottage.
Cottagers free kick danger
Slow-enough start picks up some drama in the 12th minute as Fulham prepare for a free kick won by the ever-busy Sasa Lukic.
Harry Wilson scythes in a delivery that is blocked by Leeds.
Fulham lineup
Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon, Berge, Lukic, Wilson, King, Iwobi, Muniz
Leeds lineup
Darlow, Bogle, Gudmundsson, Rodon, Struijk, Ampadu, Longstaff, Stach, Aaronson, Okafor, Calvert-Lewin
Fulham vs Leeds preview
The Cottagers will probably say they should have won away to Chelsea last time out, if not for an errant VAR decision that stole a perfectly good first goal away from 18-year-old Josh King and sent the west London derby in an entirely different direction altogether. Even still, Brighton (away), Manchester United (home) and Chelsea (away) is quite a dicey run of fixtures to start the season and Marco Silva’s side will feel good about the two points they earned.
Leeds, meanwhile, have scored just one goal in their three games, but do already have a win (and a draw) on the board because they were able to do something that Fulham haven’t yet: keep a clean sheet (two, in fact). Leeds’ scoreless draw with Newcastle before the international break was a tactical gridlock with barely 1.0 xG between the two sides combined, but demonstrated a solid defensive foundation upon which Daniel Farke’s side can build — something that was missing the last time Leeds came up and rather quickly went back down.
Fulham team news, focus
None.
Leeds team news, focus
OUT: Lucas Perri (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Ethan Ampadu (knee), Lukas Nmecha (kne), Joel Piroe (calf), Ao Tanaka (knee)
Fulham vs Leeds prediction
With Leeds happy to defend most of the game, Fulham don’t exactly have the personnel to break down a deep block, but do they have the discipline to not leave themselves open on the counter once they lose the ball? Fulham 0-1 Leeds.
