Sunderland put in a brilliant performance in London against Premier League opposition and thoroughly deserved a replay back at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland made the perfect start, with a Jack Clarke goal in the opening stages. Tom Cairney got the equalising goal for the hosts. There were chances galore in a highly entertaining game that ended 1-1.
Tony Mowbray made one change to the starting eleven with Edouard Michut coming in for the injured Corry Evans. Mowbray named a youthful bench with the likes of Chris Rigg and new signing Pierre Ekwah.
Sunderland made the trip to the capital looking to impose themselves on a Premier League side who sit seventh. It was a perfect start for the lads, Jack Clarke nipped in and took it off Issa Diop and slotted it home brilliantly past Marek Rodak.
The goal had given Sunderland so much confidence, and Amad was pushing forward and causing all sorts of problems for the Fulham back line. Fulham should have equalised 14 minutes into the game, a lovely ball in from a corner was headed just over from Tosin Adarabioyo.
Sunderland were dealt a hammer blow not only for this game, but for the season as Ross Stewart was stretchered off after he pulled up. The lads were struggling to maintain a hold in the game and struggled with the absence of Stewart to hold the ball up.
Sunderland almost doubled their lead, Patrick Roberts did brilliantly to beat his man and pulled it back to Amad who pulled it wide. The hosts ran up the other end and somehow were denied, Andreas Pereira’s superb volley was cleared off the line brilliantly by Dan Ballard and hit off Anthony Patterson as it deflected to safety.
Amad came so close to doubling the lads’ lead just before the break, Neil did well to win it back in midfield, and Michut drove forward and slipped it through to Amad, who saw his effort deflected wide. The half came to a close, and Mowbray would have been delighted to have limited the hosts to little and go into the break one up, but the blow to Stewart was a bitter pill to swallow.
Fulham had started the half with much more intensity, Harry Wilson had an effort from range well saved by Patterson. Roberts and Amad were brilliant to watch, and they linked up again, Amad got an effort away, but saw his effort well saved by Rodak.
It was an end-to-end affair; Pereira counted with pace and slipped it through Wilson who was again denied by Patterson. There were chances galore in the opening ten minutes of the second period, Amad’s effort from range was spilled by Rodak and Clarke almost capitalised on the loose ball.
The former Fulham player Patrick Roberts came so close to giving the lads a deserved second, he ran almost the length of the pitch, he ignored the support and went alone, but his effort whistled just past the post.
Fulham made it 1-1 on the hour as Tom Cairney did brilliantly to drop a shoulder to beat Ballard and planted an effort in the bottom corner.
The hosts had around 60/70% possession throughout the game and it was starting to show in the Sunderland’s players legs. Willian almost completed the comeback with 15 to play, his free kick from 20 yards out was brilliantly saved by Patterson.
Sunderland came so close to regaining the lead, Roberts and Amad linked again with the former Fulham man and debutant Ekwah both having efforts blocked.
With five minutes on the clock Patterson was called into action again, Kenny Tete’s cross was met by Manor Solomon who was denied by the brilliant Sunderland keeper.
Sunderland thought they’d won it in the dying moments, Amad slipped it through to Ba who then pulled it back to Chris Rigg who hammered it home and wheeled away in celebration, but the flag was up and sadly put an end to the celebrations.
Fulham almost won it themselves, Mitrovic’s effort was deflected to Decordova Reid who chested it towards goal from close range that was miraculously saved by Patterson.
Full Time: Fulham 1-1 Sunderland
A Love Supreme Man of the Match: Anthony Patterson
Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, Batth, Alese (Huggins 46’), Michut (Ekwah 77), Neil, Roberts (Rigg 86’), Amad, Clarke (Bennette 77’), Stewart (Ba 20’)
Subs: Bass, Kelly, Johnson, Watson
