Willian scores twice from the penalty spot as Fulham defeat Wolves.
Willian scored twice from the penalty spot as Fulham defeated Wolves 3-2 to earn their first Premier League victory since early October and move 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
The visitors held Marco Silva’s men at Craven Cottage twice, but Brazilian winger Willian scored deep into stoppage time.
Fulham made a strong start to the game, taking a merited lead in the seventh minute with a well-worked goal down the left.
Willian sent in charging left-back Antonee Robinson, who passed to Alex Iwobi. The former Arsenal player shifted his weight, gathering a ball close behind him and scoring deftly.
Willian scores twice from the penalty spot as Fulham defeat Wolves.
Minutes later, the dangerous Hwang Hee-chan surged through the middle and collected an incisive Mario Lemina through pass, but his thunderous drive glanced off the top of the crossbar.
Midway through the half, Matheus Cunha headed home after brilliant wing play on the right by Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who tied Robinson up before providing a pinpoint cross to the back post.
Silva’s Fulham were dominating possession but failing to create many clear-cut chances.
They had a lucky break just before halftime when keeper Bernd Leno slipped and lost the ball under pressure, but Lemina was unable to convert from a tight angle.
Ten minutes into the second half, referee Michael Salisbury directed to the spot, deciding that Nelson Semedo had fouled Tom Cairney in the box, despite the fact that the defender looked to have touched the ball.
Willian stepped forward after a lengthy VAR check and rolled the ball to the goalkeeper’s left, exacerbating the anguish for Wolves manager Gary O’Neil, whose team has been the victim of a string of questionable penalty decisions this season.
Fulham’s lead may have been extended, but Iwobi’s attempt was deflected by Jose Sa.
They were forced to rue that wasted opportunity when Tim Ream made a poor challenge on Hwang, resulting in a penalty for Wolves.
In the 75th minute, the South Korean smashed home down the centre to tie the game.
But there was still time for the match’s third penalty kick.
When Joao Gomes seemed to make contact with Harry Wilson, Salisbury waved away penalty appeals, but VAR officials advised him to view the pitchside monitor, and he revised his judgment, with Willian making no mistake.
