Fulham rocked by late Dzeko winner

Fulham 1 Manchester City 2

Substitute Edin Dzeko netted an 87th-minute winner for Manchester City at Craven Cottage.

Fulham went ahead through Mladen Petric’s early penalty but the Premier League champions equalised through Sergio Aguero before Dzeko belted home less than a minute after coming on.

Petric scored from the spot after John Arne Riise had gone down under a challenge from Pablo Zabaleta near the edge of the area.

City responded strongly, with Aaron Hughes and keeper Mark Schwarzer combining to deny Carlos Tevez on the goal-line before the visitors eventually equalised two minutes before half-time.

Tevez’s mis-hit shot was diverted towards goal by David Silva and after Schwarzer did brilliantly to parry the Spaniard’s effort, Aguero was on hand to tuck away the loose ball.

Fulham, without the injured Dimitar Berbatov, almost went back in front early in the second half when Bryan Ruiz’s right-wing free-kick was headed wide by Brede Hangeland.

Ruiz’s 20-yard drive then brought a save from Joe Hart, while City also threatened and went close when Aguero headed wide from Zabaleta’s cross.

Having withstood a barrage of pressure, the Whites looked set to pick up a deserved point but paid the price for failing to clear Gael Clichy’s cross.

The Frenchman’s ball into the box was head on by Mario Balotelli and after Riise’s attempted header clear fell to Dzeko, he blasted into the net.

Fulham (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise; Baird (Karagounis 80), Sidwell; Duff, Ruiz, Rodallega; Petric (Kacaniklic 66).
Subs not used: Kelly, Kasami, Smith, Briggs, Stockdale.

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