Ibrahima Cisse mark his Fulham debut with a stunning strike as Fulham continued their pre-season preparations with a convincing win over Queens Park Rangers at Motspur Park.
The holding midfielder, signed from Standard Liege earlier this week, lashed in a powerful drive from the edge of the penalty area that crashed down off the crossbar and in off an unfortunate Seny Dieng in the Rangers goal. Cisse, who had already added physicality to the Fulham engine room in the first ten minutes, was mobbed by a number of his team-mates after making the perfect start to his Cottagers’ career with an early goal against Fulham’s near neighbours.
Rangers, who fielded largely an under 23 side after illness decimated their planned starting line-up, were level ten minutes through an outstanding individual goal from Dan Derbyshire. The winger burst into the box after cutting infield from the left flank and fired an unstoppable shot past Marek Rodak from what looked like an impossible angle. Dieng then denied Sone Aluko a second with a superb save – clawing away the Nigerian international’s curling effort from the top corner.
Aluko did restore Fulham’s lead ten minutes before the interval. A clever corner routine found Stefan Johansen in space at the near post and the Norwegian low ball in was gleefully converted by the former Hull City forward at the back stick. The hosts had further chances to increase their lead before the break but neither Cauley Woodrow or Lasse Vigen Christensen were able to convert.
Christensen was heavily involved in Fulham’s third three minutes into the second half. The Dane drove deep into QPR territory after being fed by Johansen and his devilish cross was turned home at the far post by Matt O’Riley. Johansen then lashed in a fierce free-kick that proved too hot for Dieng to handle to make it four and, for a while, it looked as Slavisa Jokanovic’s side would run riot.
Dennis Adeniran went close with a strike from just outside the box and Tom Cairney nearly found a fifth but shot fractionally wide after lovely interplay between the Fulham captain and Johansen. Instead, it was QPR who found further consolation when Ossie Kakay fired past Magnus Norman with two minutes to play.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Rodak (Norman 58); Fredericks, Ream, Sigurdsson, Djalo; Cisse (McDonald 45), Christensen; O’Riley, Aluko (Cairney 45), Ayite (Johansen 28); Woodrow (Adeniran 58).
GOALS: Cisse (15), Aluko (35), O’Riley (48), Johansen (53).
QUEENS PARK RANGERS (4-4-2): Dieng; Kakay, Williams, Paul, Wallen (Chair 42); Rowe (Emmanuel-Thomas 74), Comley, Tilt (Prohouly 60), Darbyshire; Eze, Emmanuel-Thomas (Eshun 60). Subs (not used): Herdmen, Finney.
GOALS: Darbyshire (25), Kakay (88).
