In a thrilling encounter at Craven Cottage, Super Eagles star, Alex Iwobi, scored the decisive goal as Fulham secured a 2-1 victory over Leicester City, marking their first win of the season.
The match also featured a significant moment for Emile Smith Rowe, who, on his home debut for Fulham, netted his first Premier League goal in nearly two and a half years.
Smith Rowe, eager to make an impact, opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a composed finish, a goal that set the tone for the Cottagers’ performance.
Despite Fulham’s early dominance, Leicester fought back, leveling the score through Wout Faes.
The Belgian defender capitalized on a well-delivered corner from Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte, heading the ball powerfully into the bottom left corner.
Initially ruled offside, the goal was awarded after a VAR review determined that Jamie Vardy had not interfered with Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Fulham had shown promise from the start, with Adama Traoré particularly impressive on the right wing.
Traoré, who endured a challenging first season in West London due to injuries, was in fine form, dictating play and creating opportunities. His left-footed strike forced a save from Leicester’s goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, and moments later, he provided the assist for Smith Rowe’s goal, slipping a perfectly weighted pass to the midfielder after a dazzling run through the midfield.
As the match progressed, the momentum shifted back and forth, with both teams creating chances. However, it was Iwobi who made the difference.
In the 70th minute, a precise pass to Antonee Robinson allowed the left-back to loft the ball into Iwobi’s path. The Nigerian international’s powerful shot deflected off Hermansen and into the net, sealing the victory for Marco Silva’s side.
Leicester manager Steve Cooper, facing his former club, made several tactical changes, including substituting Bobby Decordova-Reid, whose return to Craven Cottage was met with applause from the home fans.
Decordova-Reid, who joined Leicester in the summer, had spent five seasons with Fulham before making the switch.
Although the second half lacked the intensity of the first, Fulham’s resilience paid off, and Iwobi’s goal was enough to earn them a crucial three points.
The win provided a much-needed boost for Fulham, who had suffered a late defeat at Manchester United in their previous outing.
