Kasami’s winner gives Fulham dream start

By

Sunderland 0 Fulham 1

Pajtim Kasami’s first goal for Fulham gave them a dream start to the season.

They were forced to defend for much of the game but Kasami’s header from Damien Duff’s corner seven minutes into the second half was enough to secure a superb victory.

Martin Jol’s side had to deal with an early setback after left-back Kieran Richardson limped off midway through the first half.

They were also put under sustained pressure from a Sunderland side who missed a number of chances to score.

Maarten Stekelenburg, making his Premier League debut for Fulham, did brilliantly to keep out Ondrej Celustka’s 25-yard shot.

But the Dutch goalkeeper was forced to go off injured after suffering a shoulder injury while denying Jozy Altidore with 14 minutes remaining.

With substitute David Stockdale in the Fulham goal, the Black Cats kept pressing but were unable to find an equaliser.

Ji Dong-Won could have rescued a point for them in the final minute but headed Adam Johnson’s cross wide of the target.

Fulham (4-4-1-1):Stekelenburg (Stockdale 76); Riether, Hangeland, Hughes, Richardson (Briggs 20); Duff, Boeteng (Karagounis 65), Sidwell, Dejagah; Taarabt; Berbatov.
Subs not used: Senderos, Ruiz, Rodallega, Bent

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

 

Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook