Fulham

4-3

Leicester City

McBride 34, Montella 50, 59 Routledge 90

 

Fryatt 13, McAuley 45, Weslowski 47



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Wayne Routledge stabbed home a dramatic injury time winner as Fulham came from 3-1 down to beat Leicester on Wednesday night.

With extra-time looming after an enthralling 90 minutes, Routledge managed to wriggle free of Alan Maybury and James Weslowski before sliding the ball under Paul Henderson.

Routledge led the celebrations, but it was Montella with two goals on his home debut who left to a hero's reception.

On a windy evening by the River Thames, Leicester's vocal travelling fans had to wait until the eighth minute for the first attempt on goal, Iain Hume spinning cleverly before slicing wide from the edge of the box.

Fulham replied by breaking quickly through the galloping Routledge. He slid the ball through to Heidar Helguson but the Icelander was crudely upended by Leicester captain Patrick McCarthy on the edge of the box. The set-piece came to nothing though as Routledge first curled into the wall then volleyed the rebound over the bar.

Despite Fulham looking the brighter of the two teams, it was the visitors who took the lead on 13 minutes.

Stephen Hughes chipped a perfectly weighted pass over the head of Carlos Bocanegra for Matt Fryatt to sprint on to. With just Tony Warner to beat, the 20 year old coolly slipped the ball into the bottom corner.

Only a smart save from Warner kept Fulham within touching distance five minutes later, and again it was Fryatt causing problems. In acres of space on the right after a Fulham move had broken down, the former Walsall striker charged down the line before cutting in and shooting with his left foot only for Warner to dive to his right and hold.

Warner had to be alert in the 25th minute to palm Gareth Williams' long-range drive wide as Leicester continued to threaten.

The Fulham goal was leading a charmed life with full-back Maybury the latest to try his luck from distance. The former Leeds man struck his volley sweetly but the ball arched just past the far post.

However, it was Fulham who scored against the run of play on 34 minutes.

Tomasz Radzinski, who drew groans from the home crowd after a less than effective first half, raced down the line before delivering an excellent cross which Brian McBride expertly brought down and lashed home with his left foot.

With most of the shivering crowd considering which hot beverage to purchase at half-time, Leicester went ahead for a second time just moments before the break.

From a free-kick on the right, Levi Porter swung in an excellent cross which Gareth McAuley, having escaped the attention of Franck Queudrue, nodded in at the back post.

Fulham suffered the ignominy of a Third Round exit to Leyton Orient last year and the London side looked like suffering a similar embarrassment when they went 3-1 down two minutes after the restart.

Fryatt ghosted past Liam Rosenior before laying the ball back to Weslowski who took a touch before cracking an unstoppable drive into the top corner.

The appearance of Italian international Montella at the start of the second half lifted the spirits of the Fulham faithful.

And the forward showed why he is dubbed 'Little Aeroplane', turning in Michael Brown's 50th minute cross before unfurling his arms and flying away in trademark celebration.

The 'Little Aeroplane' was in full flight as Fulham equalised nine minutes later. Routledge's corner was flicked on inadvertently by Hume to Montella who rose highest to head in at the back post.

Fulham were now rampant, showing few signs of their inept first half display, and Chris Coleman's men almost took the lead for the first time when Queudrue's goalbound header was somehow deflected over.

Bocanegra then had a header snaffled by Foxes keeper Henderson as Fulham pressed for a fourth.

Leicester gamely clung on but with extra-time looming, their resistance finally gave way.

Routledge somehow wriggled free from Maybury and Weslowski on the right flank and, with referee Alan Wiley playing an excellent advantage, the England Under-21 international stabbed home under Henderson to send the Fulham fans into frenzied celebration.

Fulham: Warner, Volz, Bocanegra, Queudrue, Christanval, Rosenior, Brown, Helguson, Radzinski, McBride (Montella 46), Routledge.

Subs not used: Lastuvka, Runstrom, Zakuani, Omazusi.

Leicester: Henderson, Maybury, Kisborno, McCarthy, Hughes (Cadamarteri 81), Hume, Williams, Tiatto (Weslowski 38), Fryatt, McAuley (Stearman 80), Porter.

Subs not used: Logan, Johansson.

Referee: A Wiley.

Assistants: M Murphy & M Mullarkey.

Fourth Official: P Armstrong.