In a dramatic Premier League encounter at Craven Cottage, Everton secured a stunning 2-1 comeback victory over Fulham, with goalkeeper Bernd Leno's unfortunate own goal eight minutes from time proving the decisive moment in a match filled with defensive errors and shifting momentum.
Fulham's Dominant First Half Performance
For the opening forty-five minutes, Fulham appeared to be in complete control of the contest. Marco Silva's side played with fluency and creativity, creating numerous opportunities while restricting Everton to minimal threats. The only frustration for the home supporters was that Fulham had not converted more of their dominance into goals.
Fulham's breakthrough came in the 18th minute through a combination of clever movement and fortunate deflection. After some intricate build-up play involving Samuel Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi, Raúl Jiménez saw his shot saved by Jordan Pickford, only for the rebound to strike Everton defender Vitalii Mykolenko and trickle into the net for an own goal.
Missed Opportunities Prove Costly
Fulham continued to create chances throughout the first period, with Emile Smith Rowe and Chukwueze both striking the woodwork from distance, while Harry Wilson and Jiménez missed presentable opportunities. Everton, typically resilient under David Moyes, somehow reached halftime with just a one-goal deficit, offering them a lifeline they would ultimately exploit.
Everton's Second Half Resurgence
The momentum shifted noticeably after the interval as Fulham's intensity dropped and Everton began to assert themselves. James Garner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Idrissa Gueye gradually gained control of midfield battles, though Everton struggled to create clear openings from open play.
Their persistence was finally rewarded in the 75th minute when Mykolenko made amends for his earlier misfortune. The Ukrainian full-back broke down the left flank before cutting the ball back to Dewsbury-Hall, whose low shot squirmed through Leno's dive to level the scores.
Late Drama Seals Everton Comeback
With Fulham now reduced to counter-attacking football, Everton pressed for a winner. Their set-piece threat, which had been evident throughout the afternoon, proved decisive in the 83rd minute. From a Dewsbury-Hall corner, Jake O'Brien's presence seemed to unsettle Leno, and the German goalkeeper could only punch the ball into his own net under pressure.
The late own goal completed a remarkable turnaround for Everton, who extended their unbeaten away run to five matches and climbed to seventh in the Premier League table. For Fulham, it was a bitter defeat after such a promising first-half display, with Leno's late error proving particularly costly.
