Sunday's opening match for Fulham started out with incredible luck and ended with bad luck as Arsenel were able to nab a 2-1 win in the final 15 minutes or so.
Fulham jumped to a 1-0 lead when David Healy jumped all over a mis-play by Arsenel goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who flubbed a clearance and Healy grabbed the junk and put it in the net. While it might be easy pickings to throw barbs at Lehmann, the rest of the world has already done so, so I won't--not a lot anyway.
For most of the match, Fulham kept attacking and Arsenel did as well. Stepping in to the net just 10 minutes prior to the match due to an injury to normal starting keeper Antti Niemi, Tony Warner impressed a lot of people including the Arsenel strikers with one of the best displays of goalkeeping all year, with 11 saves and plenty of smart goal tending, including dives at the feet of attackers to strip them of the ball before a shot can be taken.
In the 84th minute, a penalty kick was awarded to Arsenel following a foul by Carlos Bocanegra and in stoppage time, Arsenel slipped another goal past Warner.
The Good of the Game
For 80 minutes or so, Fulham showed that that predictions of relegation at this point in the campaign mean nothing. The Whites played on even footing with the mighty Arsenel, with spectacular chances of their own occaisionally stopped by Lehmann and sometimes by bad luck or missed chances.
Tony Warner may not get the starting job when the injured Niemi returns, but he certainly made a case for why he should. Despite a quick insertion into the line-up Warner played like a man who hungered for a win. His excellent positioning and quick reflexes prevented Arsenel goals on more than one occaision.
The midfield and strikers look to be able to create scoring chances from the run of play. Fulham needs to focus on finishing a little and taking advantage of the chances presented to them. But against the Arsenel defense, the Fulham attackers looked competent and quick.
The Bad of the Game
The back line of Fulham worked well individually, Chris Baird, Zat Knight, Bocanegra and Paul Konchesky individually played well, Knight in particular. But as a unit they seem to be struggling with little mistakes, like giving too much room to the attacking wingers. Miscommunications and missed marks plagued them, particularly in the last 20 minutes, when the Arsenel attack got fast and furious.
Fitness levels may be poor at this stage of the season, but in the final 15 minutes, it looked like Arsenel had the run of the field. The team must get fit and be prepared for 120 minutes of play.
Man of the Game
Without a doubt--Tony Warner.
Next Match is on Wednesday at home vs. Bolton.
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