Sunderland 2-3 Fulham: Lavyin Kurzawa scores decisive goal

Sunderland 2-3 Fulham: Layvin Kurzawa’s scores decisive goal as Marco Silva’s survive late scare to set up FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Leeds

• Fulham are through to the FA Cup fifth round after a 3-2 win versus Sunderland 
• Harry Wilson, Andreas Pereira and Layvin Kurzawa were on target for Fulham
• Jack Clarke and Jewison Bennette netted for Sunderland, who didn’t give up

The romantic outcome was a Sunderland win and, 50 years on, a rerun of their famous 1973 FA Cup final victory over Leeds. Such nostalgia will have to wait for May’s anniversary.

For on a bitter night when sentiment, as well as the tips of your fingers, were deadened by the chill, it was the warm toes of Harry Wilson which helped send Fulham into the last 16. The winger was hot from the off.

But just as Sunderland’s young team – nine starters 23 and under – were coming to the boil late in the second half, defender Layvin Kurzawa’s close-range blast blew apart those dreams of a poignant tie at home to Leeds next month.

There was still time for some tension when Jewison Bennette made it 2-3 in stoppage-time, but it was all too late.

Remarkably, given Wilson’s obvious talent, his opening goal was his first in 10 months. Boss Marco Silva has started the Wales international just three times in the Premier League this season but here he made a convincing case for more involvement.

Layvin Kurzawa’s goal proved decisive as Fulham won 3-2 against Sunderland in the FA Cup

Harry Wilson celebrates after his goal put Fulham ahead in their clash against Sunderland 

Wilson opened the scoring in the eighth minute during the FA Cup fifth round replay

His goal, on eight minutes, was classy, if assisted by the rather more careless goalkeeping of Anthony Patterson. The 22-year-old keeper has looked like their heir apparent to ’73 hero Jimmy Montgomery – watching on from the stands – for much of this season, but he will know he could have done better.

Wilson took aim with the outside of his left boot from 14 yards and, while the shot had pace and spin, Patterson would have expected to turn it around the post, instead of helping it into the bottom corner.

He fared better when saving from Wilson after a fine run and was relieved to see the same player steer wide of the post before the break, again following an incisive dribble.

MATCH FACTS 

Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, Batth, Alese, Roberts (Pritchard 64), Neil (O’Nien 64), Michut (Ekwah 72), Clarke, Diallo (Bennette 71), Ba (Rigg 79)

Subs: Kelly, Johnson, Watson, Bass

Goals: Clarke 77, Bennette 90 

Fulham: Rodak, Tete (Decordova-Reid 65), Duffy, Tosin, Kurzawa, Harris (Pereira 46), Palhinha (Reed 65), Wilson, Cairney, Solomon (James 80), Carlos Vinicius (Mitrovic 46)

Subs: Leno, Robinson, Diop, Willian

Goals: Wilson 8, Pereira 59, Kurzawa 82 

Booked: Duffy 

Andreas Pereira is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring Fulham’s second goal

Jack Clarke managed to get a goal back for Sunderland with an impressive strike

Jewison Bennette scored Sunderland’s second goal late on, but Fulham were still winners

Sunderland were enjoying their best period and Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo’s shot had just been cleared from the line by Shane Duffy when, at the other end, Aleksandar Mitrovic laid on the easiest of finishes for fellow substitute Andreas Pereira just shy of the hour.

Sunderland’s Jack Clarke curled in wonderfully on 76 minutes but Kurzawa restored the two-goal cushion six minutes later. Back came Sunderland and Bennette’s smart finish dialled up the home volume once more.

Silva, serving a touchline ban, was watching from the lofty vantage of the press box in the back row of the main stand. But, thankfully for him at least, those around him were not to write a fairytale ending.

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