Fulham managed an incredible 2-1 comeback victory against Brentford, with Harry Wilson’s two goals in stoppage time stealing the show at Craven Cottage. Brentford initially led through Vitaly Janelt’s impressive first-half strike, and Fulham struggled to find an equalizer as their West London rivals stood firm in defense. By the end, however, Wilson was being celebrated by teammates, with home fans ecstatic over an unexpected win.
Wilson entered the game as a substitute and scored the equalizer in the 92nd minute with what many are calling a goal-of-the-season contender. He skillfully flicked Adama Traore’s cross with his heel, sending the ball over Brentford’s goalkeeper, Mark Flekken. “I was just trying to help it on,” Wilson later said, expressing surprise at the remarkable outcome.
Fabio Carvalho, a former Fulham player, came close to giving Brentford the lead again just after. But Fulham’s hopes of a comeback were preserved by a crucial stop made by goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Shortly after, in the 97th minute, Wilson nudges the ball into the net with his shoulder after connecting with Antonee Robinson’s cross to give Fulham the victory.
Wilson’s second goal raised some doubts about its validity, but Craven Cottage supporters were too happy to care. Throughout the game, Fulham had applied pressure, and chances were created by Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson, and Robinson. With the victory, Fulham moved up to ninth place in the Premier League rankings, while Brentford fell to 12th.
Brentford has faced issues with maintaining leads, having lost a league-high 14 points from winning positions this season. Manager Thomas Frank expressed his disappointment, acknowledging the emotional toll of losing in such dramatic fashion. However, he maintained that Fulham had been the better team on the night, particularly in their attacking play.
Harry Wilson, thrilled by his impactful performance, shared his excitement with ‘Sky Sports’, saying, “It was an amazing feeling to come on and score the two goals to win us the game.” He noted that Fulham had dominated the second half, believing the result was deserved.
Reflecting on his first goal, Wilson described how he aimed to “get across the front” of the box when Traore’s cross came in, hoping to help the ball along. “When I saw it fly in, it was an amazing feeling,” he shared, clearly pleased with the unexpected success of his creative attempt.
Wilson admitted his second goal was a bit luckier, acknowledging that it came off his shoulder rather than his head. “They all count,” he remarked, happy that his somewhat unconventional finish still made a difference in the game’s outcome.
Pundit Jamie Carragher praised Fulham’s efforts, saying on ‘MNF’ that they were “outstanding” and that it was unfortunate they trailed at halftime. He noted that Fulham controlled much of the game and applauded Wilson’s role off the bench, highlighting how effective substitutions can turn matches around.
Fulham manager Marco Silva echoed Carragher’s sentiment, saying his side “definitely deserved the three points.” Silva praised his players’ perseverance, noting that they continued to push despite Brentford’s solid defense, especially around their box. He also acknowledged Wilson’s season-long struggles for playing time, but celebrated his impactful contributions.
Silva emphasized that Fulham has been playing well this season but hasn’t always seen results match their efforts. He expressed satisfaction that the team’s hard work ultimately paid off, especially for the home crowd, whom he felt deserved such a thrilling win.
Brentford’s Thomas Frank, on the other hand, expressed his frustration, noting that it was “emotionally very tough” to lose after leading so late. He admitted that Wilson’s first goal was an “unbelievable touch” and recognized that, on balance, Fulham had deserved the win.
Reflecting on the game and Brentford’s trend of losing points from winning positions, Frank stressed the importance of maintaining leads, noting that the dropped points could be costly by season’s end. Despite this, he said he remained optimistic that over time, these challenges would make Brentford stronger.
In a bitter twist, Brentford was reminded of a similar experience from last weekend when they scored a late goal against Ipswich. Frank acknowledged Fulham’s deserved victory but stressed that Brentford must improve offensively to prevent further losses.
