LONDON, ENGLAND — Raúl Jiménez held his nerve in the dying moments of the first half, converting a penalty in the 45th minute plus five seconds to secure a 1-0 victory for 14th-placed Fulham over 16th-placed Nottingham Forest at Craven Cottage. The Mexican striker sent his right-footed effort into the bottom left corner after Kevin had been fouled by Douglas Luiz inside the penalty area, providing the decisive moment in a tightly-contested affair.
The penalty came at the perfect time for Marco Silva's side, awarded in the 45th when Kevin drew the foul from Luiz in the box. After a brief delay that saw Nottingham Forest's John Victor shown a yellow card for dissent, Jiménez stepped up confidently. His precise finish gave Matz Sels no chance, sending the home supporters into raptures as the half-time whistle approached. The goal capped a tense opening period that had seen both sides struggle to create clear-cut opportunities.
The tactical battle centered around midfield control, where Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic worked tirelessly to disrupt Forest's rhythm. Morgan Gibbs-White tried to orchestrate attacks for the visitors, linking well with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Omari Hutchinson on the flanks, but Fulham's defensive organization remained resolute. Bernd Leno was called into action twice, making crucial saves including a 62nd-minute stop from Murillo's long-range effort that was destined for the top corner. At the other end, Kenny Tete provided width down the right, while Antonee Robinson's overlapping runs caused problems for Neco Williams.
The statistics told a different story, with Nottingham Forest dominating possession and chances but Fulham taking all three points. Despite 11 attempts, Fulham managed just one shot on target — the penalty that won the match. Forest fared only marginally better, registering two efforts on target from their 12 attempts, highlighting the wasteful finishing that plagued both sides. The referee was kept busy throughout, brandishing nine cards in a feisty affair that saw five Fulham players and four Forest players cautioned.
The turning point arrived with that late first-half penalty decision. Forest had been growing into the match, with Elliot Anderson and Douglas Luiz beginning to assert control in midfield. However, Luiz's mistimed challenge on Kevin shifted momentum decisively. The visitors pushed hard after the break, with Igor Jesus missing a golden opportunity in the 47th minute when his effort from the center of the box sailed high and wide. Nuno Espírito Santo introduced Taiwo Awoniyi, James McAtee, and Arnaud Kalimuendo in search of an equalizer, but Joachim Andersen and Jorge Cuenca stood firm, though both collected yellow cards in the closing stages as tensions boiled over.
Looking ahead, Fulham will travel to face West Ham United on December 27, while Nottingham Forest travel to face Manchester City on December 27.