Odoi’s header takes Fulham to Wembley
[media-credit name=”© John Walton/PA Wire” align=”alignnone” width=”620″]
[/media-credit]
Fulham 2 Derby 0
(Fulham win 2-1 on aggregate)
A stunning header from Denis Odoi took Fulham into the play-off final on a memorable night at Craven Cottage.
The defender, who nearly left the club last summer, flicked home the winner via the far post to add to Ryan Sessegnon’s opener and overturn the 1-0 first-leg deficit – giving Fulham their first-ever play-off win.
Sessegnon had blasted home from close range shortly after the interval after the Whites had wasted a string of first-half chances, mainly through Aleksandar Mitrovic.
But they will go to Wembley – the stadium their owner Shahid Khan is trying to buy – to face either Aston Villa or Middlesbrough on May 26 for a place in the Premier League.
They dominated in familiar fashion on their home ground and recaptured the form that yielded a remarkable 23-game unbeaten run which saw them go close to winning automatic promotion.
Stefan Johansen had arguably the best chance of the opening period when he sliced a shot wide of the near post, and keeper Scott Carson kept out a header from Mitrovic.
Fulham continued their onslaught immediately after the interval and the 17-year-old Sessegnon showed the composure of a veteran to control Johansen’s knock-down and fire in on 48 minutes.
And Odoi rose above his marker to nod home Sessegnon’s cross on 66 minutes, sending the Whites through.
Subs not used: Button, Christie, Piazon, Ayite, Fonte.
