Everton delivered a potentially decisive blow to Fulham’s European aspirations with a 3-1 comeback win at Craven Cottage. The match saw centre-back Michael Keane, possibly making one of his final appearances for the club, rise to the occasion with a commanding performance and a crucial goal. His 70th-minute header not only turned the game in Everton’s favour but also served as a reminder of his value, especially as his contract nears its expiration this summer.
Fulham had taken a deserved lead in the 17th minute. Emile Smith Rowe floated in a precise cross from the left, and Raúl Jiménez met it with a powerful header to open the scoring. At that point, Fulham were dominant, creating several dangerous opportunities, particularly through Alex Iwobi, and looked in complete control.
However, momentum shifted dramatically just before half-time. Everton had struggled to make inroads, but they were handed a lifeline when Vitalii Mykolenko’s speculative effort from the edge of the box took a significant deflection off Andreas Pereira, wrong-footing Bernd Leno and levelling the score in stoppage time of the first half. The goal changed the complexion of the game, giving the visitors renewed belief.
The second half saw Everton grow into the contest with greater confidence and urgency. Keane, stepping in due to injuries to James Tarkowski and Jake O’Brien, led the defence with authority and capped his performance with a well-timed run and powerful header from Dwight McNeil’s corner. Rising above the Fulham defence, he powered the ball into the net to give Everton the lead with 20 minutes remaining.
Three minutes later, Everton extended their advantage in fortuitous fashion. Substitute Beto capitalised on a rare error by Leno, whose attempt to smother the striker’s effort went awry. The ball slipped beneath the goalkeeper and rolled into the net, giving Everton a two-goal cushion and stunning the home supporters.
Fulham pushed forward in search of a way back into the match, and late drama almost unfolded in stoppage time when they appealed for a penalty after a potential handball inside the box. However, after a brief VAR check, the claims were dismissed, compounding the hosts’ frustration.
The defeat was especially damaging for Fulham, with rivals Brentford and Brighton both securing victories on the same day. With all three teams locked in a tight race for eighth place and a potential UEFA Conference League spot, dropped points at this stage of the season are costly.
Reflecting on the result, Fulham will rue their missed opportunities and inability to capitalise on early dominance. Their first-half control faded quickly after the equaliser, and a lack of clinical edge proved their undoing. Despite controlling possession and territory for long stretches, they failed to maintain intensity and were punished by a resilient and opportunistic Everton side.
For Everton, the victory was a much-needed boost and ended a winless run dating back to mid-April. The performance in the second half, particularly from the experienced Keane, demonstrated grit and determination at a crucial point in the campaign. The win not only lifted morale but also highlighted the depth of character within the squad as they coped with injuries and still managed to produce a strong result away from home.
