WONDER GOALS PUT FULHAM IN CONTROL
FOR all the bruising brilliance of Aleksandar Mitrovic this season, have any of his goals featured such power and poise as the one which set up Fulham for an immediate Premier League return? Without their injured talisman Mitrovic last night — and with this play-off semi-final first leg finely poised — Josh Onomah’s magical movement broke the deadlock. And a quite brilliant late free kick from Neeskens Kebano provided the buffer of a second goal to take into the return leg at home. Four minutes after the break,
Onomah collected possession on the edge of the box. The midfielder held off one challenge before beating two more and sneaking the ball in at the near post. He ran straight to manager Scott Parker who, after wild celebrations, surely breathed a huge sigh of relief en route back to west London. Mitrovic had picked up a slight knock in training so Parker made a ‘calculated’ call not to risk him here. The striker’s 26 goals have carried Fulham into the play-offs and without him the visitors lacked a focal point. Instead, it was Cardiff who should have drawn first blood. Leandro Bacuna’s shot from 20 yards was only parried into danger by Marek Rodak and Robert Glatzel would have turned it into an empty net but for Michael Hector’s brilliant challenge. Cardiff came close again shortly after when Junior Hoilett found Glatzel 15 yards out, only for Rodak to make sure this time. Then, shortly before the break, a couple of Fulham chances came at last. Onomah had a close-range effort diverted wide before Tom Cairney’s curling shot from distance crept past the post. After taking the lead, Fulham piled on further pressure in search of a killer second. But Cardiff held firm so — even without their golden boot winner — Fulham’s lead is certainly a useful one.