Brave Ivan holds nerve for Fulham
CAVALEIRO STEPS UP FOR SPOT- KICK TO BEAT FOXES
FULHAM upset all the odds at Leicester to clamber out of the relegation zone – and scored a penalty into the bargain.
Manager Scott Parker praised Ivan Cavaleiro’s guts to take his spot- kick after his comical penalty slip against Everton eight days ago.
The effort, added to Ademola Lookman’s opening goal, sealed Fulham’s second win of the season.
It all got a bit nervy late on after Harvey Barnes pulled one back, but the visitors held on for a deserved three points.
But Parker was chuffed with his side and pinpointed Cavaleiro’s courage to step up for the penalty just before half- time.
Fulham have missed five of their past eight spot- kicks – including Lookman’s failed Panenka effort at West Ham.
Parker said: “That’s a massive win for us. Defeats can cripple you but this is team that has belief.
“I’m not on Instagram or Twitter, but I can only imagine the kind of things that were being said about Ivan’s slip.
“I said to him, ‘ Are you ready for it if we get one’ and he looked me dead in the eye and said ‘ yes’. After all he’s probably seen on social media this week, he was prepared to put himself mself on the line.
“There’s a sense of relief, there’s no denying that. I feel pleased, but I know what can be around the corner.”
Leicester went close before things started to unravel and were denied twice by the woodwork in the same move when Youri Tielemans hit the post with a volley and Wesley Fofana hit the bar. Minutes later, Jamie Vardy tried a trademark flick at the near post, but keeper Alphonso Areola smothered. That was only the start of the home side’s agony as they fell behind on the half- hour.
Andre- Frank Zambo Anguissa surged through Leicester’s back line and fed the ball to Lookman. The RB Leipzig loanee still had Kasper Schmeichel to beat, but coolly slotted home.
A Senegal No19 shirt was held up on the bench as tribute to former Fulham star Papa Bouba Diop, who died at the weekend.
Five minutes later they had a penalty after referee Simon Hooper went to the pitchside monitor to look at Christian Fuchs’ tackle on Bobby Decordova- Reid.
He quickly pointed to the spot and Cavaleiro, left, converted.
Barnes made it panic stations with his goal, but Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers said: “Fulham deserved to win. We made mistakes and they pounced.”
LEICESTER ( 3- 4- 2- 1): Schmeichel 7; Fofana 6, Evans 7, Fuchs 6; Justin 6, Tielemans 7, Mendy 6 ( Iheanacho 70, 6), Thomas 6 ( Under 46, 6); Praet 6 ( Barnes 46, 6), Maddison 6; Vardy 6. Goal: Barnes 86.
FULHAM ( 4- 2- 3- 1): Areola 7; Aina 7, Andersen 7, Adarabioyo 7, Robinson 8; Reed 8, Anguissa 8; Decordova-Reid 7, Loftus- Cheek 7 ( Lemina 77), Lookman 8 ( Bryan 90); Cavaleiro 8. Goals: Lookman 30, Cavaleiro 38 pen.