Fulham of England’s Nigerian-born winger, Ademola Lookman got one of the goals that fetched his side a 2-1 win away to Leicester City, who had Kelechi Iheanacho on as a substitute while Wilfred Onyinyen Ndidi is yet to fully recover from injury, megasportsarena.com reports.
While Kelechi struggled for form late on and Ola Aina starred for the visitors, Lookman made a difference from the word go, as the former Everton of England and RB Leipzig of Germany youngster got the first goal for The Cottagers, who put their recent penalty woes behind them to move out of the EPL’s relegation zone.
Heading into the contest, Fulham had missed their last three spot-kicks in the Premier League, with Lookman’s embarrassing ‘Panenka’ attempt at West Ham United still cranking some fans, but his sins were soon forgiven with his opening goal on Monday night.
Lookman put ugly memories behind him to race clear and finish past Kasper Schmeichel to give the visitors the lead in the 30th minute before Ivan Cavaleiro, who missed Fulham’s last penalty against Everton, banished the west London club’s penalty misery with an emphatic finish into the top corner (38) after Bobby Decordova-Reid was fouled by Christian Fuchs in the area.
Leicester’s coach, Brendan Rodgers sent on Harvey Barnes and Cengiz Under at half-time and the former gave Leicester a glimmer of hope in the 85th minute, but, despite late pressure from the hosts, Fulham held on for their first away win of the season.
The victory moves Scott Parker’s side out of the bottom three to 17th, while Leicester, who missed out on the chance to move level on 21 points with Tottenham and Liverpool at the top of the table, stay fourth, but things would have been different at the King Power Stadium had the woodwork not denied Leicester twice in a matter of seconds.
Youri Tielemans first-time volley travelled through a crowded penalty area only to strike the post and, while the rebound fell for Wesley Fofana, and his shot beat Alphonse Areola but the ball clipped the crossbar and stayed out, it was the slice of luck that Fulham needed as they took control of proceedings before taking the lead.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa burst forward, drawing a challenge from Fofana before slipping the ball through to Lookman, who calmly finished past Schmeichel for his second goal of the season.
The Nigerian-born dazzler, who was named man of the match, celebrated his side’s opener by lifting a Senegal shirt in tribute to former Fulham midfielder Papa Bouba Diop following his death over the weekend and Leicester were stunned a second time hen Parker’s side grabbed the assurance goal eight minutes later.
Lookman, whose other goal for Fulham since his arrival in the summer transfer window also came in an away game against Sheffield United on October 18, was hailed by former Liverpool left-back, Jim Beglin, who declared: “They’ve been really caught badly on the counter attack which they lost possession through Tielemans who gave it away.
“Anguissa was strong, that’s not the greatest challenge in the world from Praet but the release is just perfection because Evans stood up in the hope he might just catch him but Lookman had timed it beautifully.
“And then it was a case of have you got the composure to shoot past Schmeichel and he has it on this occasion and I don’t think many were expecting that and Fulham all of a sudden now have got themselves in a great position.”
