Alex Iwobi grabs match winner as Fulham beat Leicester in Premier League

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Fulham claimed their first three points of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign after a 2-1 victory over Leicester City on Saturday.

Former Arsenal players Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi scored to hand Marco Silva’s side a deserved triumph.

Smith Rowe opened his account in the 18th minute, putting Fulham ahead. Leicester responded before halftime, leveling the score. However, with twenty minutes left, Alex Iwobi restored Fulham’s lead, which proved decisive in securing victory.

Marco Silva opted for an unchanged starting XI from the team that narrowly lost to Manchester United at Old Trafford. The only change was Ryan Sessegnon’s inclusion on the bench, replacing Josh King.

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Fulham began the match with intensity, recording their first shot in the fourth minute. Adama Traoré unleashed a powerful left-footed strike, but Leicester’s Mads Hermansen was quick to parry it behind for a corner. The pressure continued with Bobby De Cordova-Reid testing Bernd Leno from distance in the ninth minute.

The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Traoré, showing his quality on the right wing, evaded a challenge and found an unmarked Smith Rowe. The midfielder burst into the box and fired a left-footed shot into the far corner, giving Fulham the lead.

Leicester began to regain control and equalised in the 38th minute. Wout Faes headed home a deep cross at the back post. Although initially ruled offside, VAR confirmed the goal after determining Jamie Vardy wasn’t obstructing Leno’s view. The first half ended with Fulham frustrated, having failed to capitalize on their early dominance.

In the 49th minute, the hosts missed a golden opportunity to retake the lead. Adama intercepted a sloppy pass from Faes but Rodrigo Muniz, with an open goal in front of him, shot over the bar.

The Cottagers struggled to break through Leicester’s defense despite their opponents’ errors.

Sensing the need for fresh legs, Silva replaced Smith Rowe and Traoré with Harry Wilson and Tom Cairney. Seconds later, Fulham regained the lead. Antonee Robinson’s first-time pass found Iwobi, who calmly slotted the ball past Hermansen.

The final ten minutes were tense, but the home side held on to secure their first points of the season.

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