Former Fulham striker Louis Saha returned to haunt
his former club with a late goal which inspired Everton
to a dramatic 3-1 victory at Craven Cottage.
• Moyes relieved to end losing run
The 33-year-old netted from an acute angle for the
Toffees before Jack Rodwell scored in stoppage time
to ensure they ended their three-match losing steak.
Saha's strike came seconds after Bobby Zamora somehow
managed to clip the crossbar despite rounding Tim Howard.
Everton took a third-minute lead after Royston Drenthe
hit an audacious shot from long distance that snuck
in the far corner.
It looked liked Fulham had earned a share of the spoils,
though, thanks to substitute Bryan Ruiz's exquisite
chip three minutes after coming on.
However, Zamora's extraordinary miss allowed Saha and
Rodwell to score and secure victory for the Merseysiders.
Fulham manager Martin Jol made seven alterations to
the side which lost 1-0 in the Europa League at Wisla
Krakow on Thursday.
The visitors made two changes to the side which lost
3-1 at Chelsea last weekend, bringing in Drenthe and
Apostolos Vellios.
Despite having lost their last three matches, Everton
started the brightest of any visiting side at Craven
Cottage this season and took an early lead.
Incisive passing through the middle saw the ball fall
to Drenthe, who smashed home from 30 yards.
Fulham looked shellshocked as the Toffees continued
to press forward and only John Arne Riise's sprawling
block thwarted Sylvain Distin minutes later.
Aside from an overhead kick attempt by Clint Dempsey,
the visitors were dominating by the Thames and Rodwell
was inches away from doubling their lead with a 12th-minute
header.
Riise saw a shot blocked and Steve Sidwell fired wide
as Fulham tried to gain some authority, before Riise
went close with a left-footed half volley.
Everton were still attacking with intent and, after
Drenthe tested Mark Schwarzer, Vellios somehow managed
to direct Tony Hibbert's cross over the bar with a wayward
header from close range.
The play was flitting from one end to the other and
the Cottagers came close to levelling through Danny
Murphy, who saw a 20-yard strike palmed onto the post
by Howard.
The United States goalkeeper was forced into action
seconds later to prevent international team-mate Dempsey
with a one-handed save.
Howard then managed to tip over Brede Hangeland's goalbound
header on the half-hour mark.
Fulham continued to press as half-time approached but
only a dipping effort from Dempsey came anywhere near
to equalising.
The west Londoners continued to press after the break
and a rare Hangeland burst forward forced Hibbert into
a last-ditch challenge, before the Norway international
then nodded wide.
Everton boss David Moyes replaced Vellios with former
Fulham favourite Saha five minutes into the second half
in a bid to reinvigorate his attack.
While the Toffees front line needed sprucing up, Phil
Jagielka and Distin were performing with aplomb in defence
as the Cottagers struggled to find an opening.
Jol brought on summer signing Ruiz in a bid to find
a way through and the Costa Rica international provided
a moment of magic to force a 67th-minute equaliser.
Neat interplay saw the ball spread left to Ruiz, who
produced a exquisite chip over Howard just three minutes
after coming on.
The goal spurred Everton into life and Schwarzer did
superbly to tip a Saha strike wide from close range.
Play became stretched as both sides searched for the
all-important third goal of the day, with Fulham coming
closest as Howard saved a close-range Ruiz effort with
his feet three minutes from the end.
Fulham thought they had grabbed a last-minute winner
through Zamora after he latched on to Andrew Johnson's
pass and rounded Howard, but somehow he managed to hit
the bar.
The Cottagers were made to pay for their futility seconds
later as Saha broke free and managed to squeeze home
under pressure from Aaron Hughes and Schwarzer.
And Everton ensured they would return to Merseyside
with all three points in stoppage time as Rodwell smashed
home.
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