Fulham of England striker, Josh Maja is lamenting over what turned out to be a ‘useless’ penalty that he convereted in his side’s English Premier League clash with Arsenal, as The Cottagers went on to conceded an added time goal in the feisty London derby.
Maja’s 59th minute spot kick appeared to have given Fulham braging rights at Emirats Stadium, only for Eddie Nketiah popping up to net a dramatic late equaliser, and The Gunners rescued a 1-1 draw to dent The Cottagers’ survival hopes.
Megasportsarena.com reports that joining Maja were the Nigerian trio of Ola Aina, Tosin Adarabioyo and Ademola Lookman, while Josh Onomah remained sidelined, as Scott Parker’s side came into the game seven points adrift of safety.
The Cottagers knew they had to go full throttle, having played a game more than Burnley in 17th, and they thought their task was about to become even harder when Dani Ceballos converted Hector Bellerin’s cross just before half-time.
However, VAR came to their rescue and the goal was ruled out because of an incredibly tight offside decision against The Gunners’ Nigerian-born left-side winger-cum-midfielder, Bukayo Saka.
Fulham defended resolutely against the Gunners and were hoping for one chance to fall their way, and it did midway through the second half when Gabriel Magalhaes brought down Mario Lemina inside the penalty area.
The incident survived a VAR review for offside and Josh Maja stepped up to emphatically convert the penalty as Parker’s men looked on course for what would be a crucial three points.
Sadly, after repelling nearly everything the Gunners threw at them with a superb defensive performance, Fulham buckled in the final stages of seven minutes of injury-time, Nketiah poking home from close range to rescue a 1-1 draw.
Parker made five changes following Fulham’s last-gasp defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, as Adarabioyo was drafted back into the Fulham defence, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa came into midfield, and the Cottagers’ attack was boosted by the returns of Ivan Cavaleiro, Lookman and Maja.
On the oher hand, Arsenal’s coach, Mikel Arteta turned to Nicolas Pepe and Thomas Partey, the former coming close to levelling with his first meaningful touch as his header across goal was cleared off the line by Adarabioyo.
Lacazette was then replaced by Nketiah, the France striker heading straight down the tunnel with his shirt over his head after appearing to pick up an injury, and it would be the substitute who eventually rescued the Gunners.
