Fulham advanced to the third round of the Carabao Cup with a decisive 2-0 victory over Championship side Bristol City at Craven Cottage. Raul Jimenez was just “on fuego” in that game. His brilliant display ensured Fulham avoided a huge embarrassment to a side still unbeaten in the Championship this term.
Only seven minutes into the game, Jimenez was already hard at work—pushing Bristol City’s George Tanner into an error. This high press created an own goal, putting Fulham ahead! This initial lead would determine the rhythm of the match to come. Fulham took advantage, ensuring they made up the majority of possession and dictating the flow of play.
Thirteen minutes later, Jimenez was at it again, this time scoring with a scripted near-post corner from Harrison Reed. He deftly trapped the ball and in one motion spun quickly to open space. Then, he fired a howitzer from distance that ripped through the netting, giving him a brace on the night. Fulham’s firepower proved too much for Bristol City to claw their way back from and the contest ended 9-0 in Fulham’s favor.
Bristol City have started the season in the Championship right, beating Sheffield United 4-1 in their first match. They had a hard time getting into the groove in their subsequent game against Fulham. Perhaps surprisingly, the visitors failed to create many decent chances during the match. For all those opportunities, they never managed to fully take advantage thanks to Fulham’s well-structured defensive efforts and pressing.
Fulham’s head coach, Marco Silva, opted for a strong lineup, making nine changes from their previous match, yet the team’s cohesion and intensity remained evident. Adama Traore made a debut in the starting XI and immediately established a strong partnership with Jimenez. Combined, they were the heart of Fulham’s attacking production.
With her personal history at Bristol City, Silva’s first home game against them was always going to carry an interesting story with it. Eight years ago, his top-flight Watford side was eliminated from the Carabao Cup by the same team, losing 3-2 at an early stage. Silva and his squad must have taken inspiration from this historic background. They were hell bent on not going down this same road again this time.
This win advanced Fulham to the next round of the Carabao Cup. It highlighted their quality and depth as they juggle competing on so many fronts. Raul Jimenez’s showings proved why he’s the heartbeat of the side. His second, an unstoppable bending goal to the Hammersmith End, was a glimpse into the attacking brilliance that we all came to admire.
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