Aleksandar Mitrovic rescued Fulham from an EFL Cup giant-killing as his late penalty forced extra time and penalties in a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage against League One Wycombe before the hosts won 5-4 on spot-kicks. Defender Issa Diop took the winning spot-kick in sudden death as the Premier League team progressed to the quarter-finals.
The visitors silenced the home fans after just four minutes when ex-Fulham striker Cauley Woodrow slotted a low shot from 20 yards past Benjamin Lecomte. The underdog, Wycombe, was able to defend stoutly for large spells of the opening period and keep Fulham at bay.
Marco Silva’s team eventually broke through soon after the break. Josh King, with his first senior goal, turned in a neat finish at the near post from a corner in the 48th minute to equalize. Fulham then piled forward in search of a winner with King and £34.6 million summer signing Kevin looking lively, but they were thwarted time and again by Wycombe keeper Will Norris, who was man of the match.
The match went to penalties after both teams failed to score in regulation. Before Norris thwarted Ryan Sessegnon and Jonah Kusi-Asare, Fulham scored their first four goals. Fortunately for the hosts, Lecomte made three important saves, denying Ewan Henderson, Fred Onyedinma, and Donnell McNeilly to give Diop the opportunity to make sure – which he took in style.
Following the game, Fulham manager Marco Silva conceded his side were not at their best in the early stages. “We didn’t play with the intensity that we were supposed to in the first half,” he said. “But we generated enough chances, and we stayed positive. This is an important result for our confidence.”
The win ends Fulham’s four-match losing run and maintains their quest to win a first major trophy in their 146-year history.
Player of the Match: Will Norris (Wycombe Wanderers) – 7.91 rating
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