ALL HAIL FULHAM GOAL KING
FULHAM 2 DERBY 0
Fulham win 2-1 on aggregate. Play-off final: May 26, 5pm, Wembley.
TeenAge prodigy ryan sessegnon last night fired Fulham into the Championship play-off final at Wembley. The super-starlet, who turns 18 on Friday, scored the leveller that cancelled out Cameron Jerome’s strike from the first leg, then set up Denis odoi for the winner to put Fulham one win away from rejoining the Premier League.
The club’s billionaire owner, shahid Khan, had flown from America to be at Craven Cottage and soaked up a rapturous atmosphere as his side reached the stadium he is attempting to buy.
Fulham manager slavisa Jokanovic said: ‘After 43 years we are going to play at Wembley. It’s a great achievement. The job is not finished.
‘ryan has showed a great level of self-belief. He is 17 years old. He is special. He is focused, confident. I cannot explain. A special man.’
Well, not a man yet. As far as sessegnon is concerned, his 16th goal of the season and a ticket to Wembley was a gift to himself.
‘That tops it,’ sessegnon said. ‘I think that has to be the best birthday present for me. We just have to go there and hopefully we get in the Premier League. I don’t let other people bother me. I just keep my head down and try to play.’
Play like this, with such attacking prowess, and Jokanovic’s side will cause Aston Villa or Middlesbrough, who play tonight, serious problems at Wembley.
Fulham’s attacking intent was apparent from the start. only Derby goalkeeper scott Carson prevented them from taking a first-half lead.
Tom Cairney tried his luck from distance, Aboubakar Kamara stung Carson’s palms with a rasping shot from 20 yards before a rocket from ryan Fredericks had to be tipped over.
Aleksandar Mitrovic then thought he had scored a header from six yards out but Carson had other ideas. somehow, the former england goalkeeper saved with a strong right arm.
Two minutes into the start of the second half, though, Carson was beaten.
The ball was chested down by stefan Johansen into the path of sessegnon and the youngster controlled it before smashing a shot into the roof of the net.
Craven Cottage was rocking. ‘He’s one of our own,’ the fans sang as Fulham piled the pressure on Derby, searching for the winner.
In the 66th minute, they got it. sessegnon whipped in a corner and a header from 5ft 10in odoi left Carson with no chance.
Derby boss gary rowett was left devastated and said: ‘ We gave it everything. Unfortunate three out of four teams in these play- offs are going to be disappointed.’
Fulham could have scored a third when Kamara had only Carson to beat. Instead, he threw himself to the ground, claiming the goalkeeper caught him. A blatant dive and he was booked.
sessegnon barely had a kick in the first leg at Pride Park but was instrumental in sending Fulham to the final here. He turned up when needed most, just as the best players tend to do.