LONDON, ENGLAND — Bernd Leno's cruel 83rd-minute own goal condemned Fulham to a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat as Everton completed a stunning comeback at Craven Cottage. The German goalkeeper, who had kept his side ahead for much of the contest, could only watch in horror as the ball ricocheted off him and into the net, sparking wild celebrations from the traveling support and leaving the home faithful devastated.
The match had begun with promise for Marco Silva's side when Vitalii Mykolenko inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 18th minute, gifting Fulham an early advantage. The Ukrainian defender's misfortune came as the Cottagers pressed forward with intent, and the goal seemed to validate their positive start. Fulham enjoyed the majority of possession at 55.1% and looked comfortable protecting their slender lead as the first half progressed, with Leno barely tested despite Everton's attempts to respond.
James Garner nearly provided an immediate answer for the visitors in the eighth minute, unleashing a right-footed shot from a difficult angle that forced Leno into a spectacular save, tipping the effort over the bar. That early warning sign proved prophetic as Everton refused to be discouraged by their defensive lapse, continuing to probe and create opportunities throughout the opening period.
The second half saw the intensity ratchet up considerably, with both sides exchanging blows in an increasingly physical encounter. The referee was kept busy, brandishing six cards in a feisty affair that saw tempers flare on multiple occasions. Jorge Cuenca picked up a yellow card for Fulham in the 66th minute after a foul on Thierno Barry, while Everton's Vitalii Mykolenko, James Garner, Jake O'Brien, and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford all found their way into the book as the match reached boiling point.
Everton's persistence finally paid dividends in the 75th minute when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall restored parity with a clinical left-footed finish from the centre of the box. Mykolenko, seeking redemption for his earlier own goal, provided the assist with a perfectly weighted pass that split the Fulham defense. Dewsbury-Hall made no mistake, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner past the despairing dive of Leno to level the scores and inject fresh belief into the visitors.
The equalizer transformed the complexion of the contest, with Everton sensing blood and Fulham desperately trying to regain their composure. Silva responded by introducing fresh legs, bringing on Rodrigo Muniz and Kevin for Raúl Jiménez and Samuel Chukwueze in the 75th minute, but the changes failed to stem the tide. The Cottagers struggled to reassert control as Everton pressed forward with renewed vigor, their attacking intent reflected in the statistics that showed 16 total attempts compared to Fulham's 13.
The decisive moment arrived eight minutes from time in the cruellest fashion imaginable. As Everton launched another attack, the ball found its way into the Fulham penalty area where a scramble ensued. In the chaos, Leno found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the ball deflected off the goalkeeper and crossed the line to complete Everton's remarkable turnaround. The stadium fell silent as the traveling contingent erupted in celebration, their team having snatched victory from the jaws of what had seemed a certain defeat.
Despite 13 attempts, Fulham managed just three on target, a damning statistic that highlighted their wastefulness in front of goal. Everton were similarly profligate, with only three of their 16 shots troubling Leno, but crucially they made their pressure count when it mattered most. The visitors' goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was relatively untroubled, making three saves compared to Leno's two, though the German will be haunted by the manner of the winning goal.
The final minutes saw Fulham throw everything forward in search of a dramatic equalizer of their own. Sander Berge fired wide from outside the box in the 92nd minute, while Muniz saw a header sail over the crossbar in the 87th minute as the hosts desperately sought salvation. Seven minutes of added time provided hope, but Everton's defense, marshaled by James Tarkowski and Michael Keane, held firm to secure a vital three points.
The result carries significant implications for both clubs' seasons. Everton's victory lifts them to ninth place on 24 points, maintaining their push toward the top half of the table and keeping European qualification hopes alive. For Fulham, the defeat leaves them languishing in 14th position on 20 points, five points behind their conquerors and with growing concerns about being dragged into a relegation scrap if their form doesn't improve.
The win positions Everton well ahead of their trip to Manchester City, while Fulham must regroup quickly with the champions visiting Craven Cottage on February 11th, a daunting prospect given the manner of this defeat and the quality of opposition they'll face.