Fulham denied by injury-time equaliser

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Southampton 2 Fulham 2

Jose Fonte’s injury-time goal denied Fulham a second successive away victory.

Having equalised through Jos Hooiveld’s second-half own goal, Martin Jol’s side looked to have stolen all three points when Kieran Richardson slotted home from fellow substitute Giorgios Karagounis’ low cross with only two minutes left.

But Fonte’s header from Danny Fox’s free-kick – his second goal of the game – rescued a point for Southampton.

Fonte’s fourth-minute opener – a looping header from Adam Lallana’s corner – had put the Saints in control.

And they almost went further ahead when Jason Puncheon was denied at close-range by Sascha Riether’s clearance off the line.

Fulham, without the injured Dimitar Berbatov, struggled to create chances before a decent spell of pressure led to them levelling with 20 minutes remaining.

John Arne Riise tried his luck with a shot that was going wide before Hooiveld stuck out a boot and diverted the ball into the roof of his own net.

It was a deserved breakthrough for the Whites as Brian Ruiz’s free-kick had been bundled against the post by Steve Sidwell before Hugo Rodallega’s shot brought a save from Saints keeper Paulo Gaazaniga.

Richardson had a chance to put Fulham in front but shot over after being teed up by Riether.

The former Manchester United man then did find the target with the help of a slight deflection off the unfortunate Hooiveld, but Fonte had the final word.

Fulham (4-4-1-1): Schwarzer; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise; Kacaniklic (Richardson 66), Baird, Sidwell (Karagounis 72), Duff; Ruiz; Rodallega.
Subs not used: Stockdale, Kelly, Senderos, Kasami, Briggs.

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