Fulham finally exhaled a collective sigh of relief as Raúl Jiménez’s late strike secured a crucial 1-0 victory over a determined Sunderland at Craven Cottage. The veteran forward, who slid in to tap home a finely weighted cross from substitute Samuel Chukwueze in the 84th minute, proved the difference in a game that had threatened to drift into a stalemate.
From the opening whistle, Fulham asserted themselves, pouring forward in search of a breakthrough. The home side dominated possession, and by half-time they had enjoyed significantly more touches in Sunderland’s penalty area than their opponents, underlining their intent.
Despite this territorial superiority, they struggled to make their dominance count, with clear-cut opportunities proving elusive.
Harry Wilson threatened early on, racing onto a pass from Sander Berge and curling a shot just wide, while Kevin-Fulham’s record signing from Shakhtar Donetsk-found the goalkeeper Robin Roefs alert to his effort from distance.
Roefs also got down well to parry a header from Berge, denying Fulham a clean breakthrough before the break.
Sunderland, marshalled expertly by midfield stalwart Granit Xhaka, absorbed the pressure. Their five-man defensive block held firm, repelling wave after wave of Fulham attacks.
In the second half, they even showed flashes of ambition. Within seconds after the restart, Enzo Le Fée broke through for a promising effort, narrowly missing the target, and though the away side remained compact, they looked capable of making something happen.
As the clock ticked past the hour mark, Fulham’s frustration was evident. Kevin and Joshua King were withdrawn, and in came Emile Smith Rowe and Samuel Chukwueze-substitutions that would eventually tip the balance.
Smith Rowe nearly made an immediate impact, but his fierce drive whistled just wide of the mark. Meanwhile, Reinildo Mandava, one of Sunderland’s tireless defenders, threw himself into blocks and tackles that kept his side in the game.
But it was Chukwueze’s delivery that would ultimately define the match. In the 84th minute, he curled a low cross into the box. Jiménez, using his experience to outmuscle defender Dan Ballard, slid in to prod the ball home past Roefs.
That moment of precision and composure proved decisive, rescuing Fulham from a potentially nerve-wracking finish.
Sunderland pressed in the closing minutes, desperate to avoid defeat, but their forays lacked the cutting edge. Fulham’s backline held firm, and when the final whistle sounded, relief washed over the Cottage faithful.
The win is a lifeline for Marco Silva’s side. Going into the game, they had lost five of their previous six matches, and pressure had been mounting around the Portuguese manager, especially with uncertainty over his contract situation.
Now, by claiming this important victory, Fulham climb to 14th place in the Premier League, lifting themselves further away from the relegation dogfight. Jiménez’s intervention not only delivered on the pitch but also underscored his value to the team.
Sunderland, for their part, will be left to rue squandered momentum. They had a chance to close the gap on the league leaders, and a point here would have been well-earned given how compact and disciplined they defended.