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Fulham’s hopes in the FA Cup were dashed as they fell to Southampton in a tense 1-0 loss, following a last-minute penalty at Craven Cottage.
It was substitute Ross Stewart who delivered the decisive blow, calmly slotting home the penalty in the first minute of added time. This victory propels the Championship side into the quarter-finals, leaving Fulham to rue missed opportunities despite having the upper hand for much of the match.
Throughout the game, Fulham dominated possession and crafted several promising chances, yet they struggled to find the back of the net.
The turning point occurred in the dying seconds when Fulham defender Joachim Andersen committed a foul on Finn Azaz inside the box, leading to the game-changing penalty.
Andersen foul leads to decisive moment
The decisive incident came deep into stoppage time when Fulham defender Joachim Andersen fouled Finn Azaz inside the penalty area.
Referee Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot and Stewart stepped up to fire a powerful penalty into the net, leaving Fulham with little time to respond.
The Scottish striker had only been on the pitch for around 20 minutes but showed composure to deliver the winning moment for the visitors.
Chances missed cost Fulham
Fulham had several chances to take control of the tie but were unable to find a breakthrough.
Andersen saw a header blocked, while efforts from Samuel Chukwueze and Oscar Bobb were saved.
The hosts also had two goals ruled out during the match, one following an infringement at a goal kick and another for offside in the second half.
Despite manager Marco Silva making eight changes to the starting line-up, Fulham could not capitalise on their attacking moments.
Focus returns to league campaign
The defeat means Fulham’s FA Cup campaign ends in the fifth round, with the club now turning its attention back to the Premier League.
While the late drama drew boos from sections of the home crowd at full-time, the result reflected Fulham’s recent dip in form after failing to convert their chances.