Fulham fixes penalty woes to beat Leicester; Villa’s VAR woe

The first ballooned over the crossbar. The second was a dreadful try at a “Panenka” that flopped into the goalkeeper’s arms. The third flew off beam due to an unlucky slip.

Three embarrassing penalty misses have summed up Fulham’s depressing begin to life again within the English Premier League, so hopes weren’t precisely excessive when the group was awarded one other in opposition to Leicester on Monday.

This time, no mistake.

Ivan Cavaleiro — one of many spot kick culprits from earlier matches — stepped up and curled his effort excessive into the web for a objective that finally proved the winner at King Power Stadium.

A 2-1 victory was solely Fulham’s second in 10 video games since promotion again to the top-flight and it lifted the group out of the relegation zone.

It additionally ended Fulham’s penalty nightmare.

“I didn’t feel pressure,” mentioned Cavaleiro, who slipped earlier than shanking a penalty over the bar in final week’s 3-2 residence loss to Everton. “That happens in football and the manager just gave me confidence to take it and I did.”

A penalty proved to be pivotal in Monday’s late match, with Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins hitting the bar with a second-half effort to permit West Ham to carry on for a 2-1 win at its Olympic Stadium and climb to fifth place.

Watkins additionally had a stoppage-time objective dominated out by the video assistant referee when his outstretched arm was adjudged to have made him offside earlier than he turned in a cross from the left. It was an agonizing await Watkins and Villa’s gamers because the VAR deliberated over the slim determination for practically three minutes, drawing traces on the display.

“We’ve had a goal disallowed for a part of the body that can’t score a goal anyway,” Villa supervisor Dean Smith mentioned.

Leicester missed the possibility to maneuver degree on factors with first-placed Tottenham and second-placed Liverpool. Villa may have jumped into the highest 4 with a win.

DIOP TRIBUTE

After one of many group’s objectives, Fulham’s gamers paid tribute to former participant Papa Boupa Diop following his demise.

Ademola Lookman went to the touchline and held up Senegal’s No. 19 jersey worn by Diop after scoring the 30th-minute opener at King Power Stadium with a low shot due to being performed by by André-Frank Anguissa.

Diop, fondly nicknamed “Wardrobe” throughout his time at Fulham, performed for the southwest London group from 2004-07. His demise was introduced on Sunday.

Cavaleiro added a second objective for the guests within the 38th after Christian Fuchs tripped Bobby De Cordova Reid.

Leicester struggled to interrupt by the worst protection within the league, with an 86th-minute objective from substitute Harvey Barnes all of the group may handle.

SLEEPY VILLA

West Ham took benefit of Villa’s gradual begins in every half to attain their objectives.

Angelo Ogbonna headed residence inside the primary two minutes from a nook by Jarrod Bowen, who scored the second lower than a minute into the second half by flicking in a header from halftime sub Said Benrahma.

Jack Grealish scored with a deflected shot between these objectives for Villa, which dominated the second half.