Ryan Sessegnon’s stoppage-time winner gave Fulham a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at already-relegated Southampton, boosting their hopes of European qualification. Sessegnon’s superb 92nd-minute header moved Fulham up to eighth, with the top eight likely to be enough to qualify for Europe unless Crystal Palace win the FA Cup.
The match saw a solid first-half display from Saints, who took a 14th-minute lead through Jack Stephens’ header as Fulham failed to have a shot on target. However, Marco Silva’s second-half substitutes turned the game in Fulham’s favor as Emile Smith Rowe came off the bench to score a heavily deflected 72nd-minute equalizer.
Fulham then pushed for a winner and eventually found one as half-time substitute Adama Traore put in a cross for Sessegnon to cleverly glance into the bottom corner. The late comeback win means Fulham are eighth on goal difference ahead of Brighton, but 10th-placed Bournemouth, who are two points behind the pair, have a game in hand against Manchester United on Sunday.
Fulham boss Marco Silva praised his team’s performance, saying, “From the first minute until the last, the reality is that we are the only team that tries to score goals or tries to play in an offensive way. In the second half, it was the same story again, one team trying to create chances to score, playing 90 per cent of the time in our offensive half.”
Meanwhile, interim Southampton boss Simon Rusk expressed disappointment at his team’s failure to secure a point, saying, “We’re gutted we didn’t get the point needed. We nearly got a really good result, so of course the lads are gutted, but as the week goes on we can’t be victims about it. We’re going to have to use that and at the end of the day these are the things that drive you on.”
The win is a significant boost for Fulham’s European hopes, and they will be looking to build on this momentum in their remaining matches. With the Premier League’s top eight spots on the line, Fulham’s victory reignites their hopes of competing in Europe next season.
In a separate development, Southampton are reportedly considering former Chelsea and Manchester United coach Eric Ramsay as a potential candidate for their vacant managerial position. Ramsay is currently in charge of Minnesota United in the MLS and has previously had various roles at Old Trafford and Chelsea.
As the Premier League season nears its climax, the battle for European qualification is heating up. Fulham’s win has given them a crucial boost in their quest for a top-eight finish, and they will be looking to secure their spot in Europe’s competitions next season.