Fulham recorded their second consecutive defeat since the start of the new Premier League season as they were edged 4-3 by fellow newcomers, Leeds United on Saturday.
After losing 4-3 at champions Liverpool on the opening weekend, Helda Costa fired Marcelo Bielsa’s free-scoring side ahead in the fifth minute.Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic equalised from the penalty spot in the 35th minute after a foul on Joe Bryan.Bryan was penalised himself for his shove on Patrick Bamford and Mateusz Klich restored Leeds’ advantage with a 40th-minute spot-kick.
In the 51st minute, Patrick Bamford steered a right-footed finish into the bottom corner.
Leeds struck again six minutes later with a superb strike from Costa.
Fulham pulled one back in the 62nd minute through Bobby Decordova-Reid and Mitrovic’s towering header four minutes later set up a tense finale, but the promoted Cottagers fell to a second successive defeat.
Leeds’ opening games have seen 14 goals, which is the most for a top-flight side’s first two matches since Wolves in 1962-63.
Seven-Goal Thriller
At Goodison Park, Dominic Calvert-Lewin hit a hat-trick in Everton’s 5-2 win over 10-man West Bromwich Albion.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side fell behind to Grady Diangana’s early goal.
But Calvert-Lewin equalised and James Rodriguez put Everton ahead with his first Premier League goal before Albion imploded.
Kieran Gibbs was dismissed for pushing James in the face in first-half stoppage-time, a rash reaction that prompted him to issue a post-match apology taking “full responsibility” for his mistake.
Then Albion boss Slaven Bilic was sent to the stands after storming onto the pitch for a furious rant at referee Mike Dean.
Matheus Pereira equalised for Albion after the interval, but Michael Keane restored Everton’s lead and Calvert-Lewin sealed the points with his second and third goals.
After a summer spending spree, Ancelotti is under pressure to deliver a big improvement on last season’s 12th place finish and the early signs are promising.
Having beaten Tottenham in their opening game last weekend, Everton have started a Premier League season with consecutive victories for the first time since 2012-13.
“Of course today Dominic was the top scorer but also Richarlison did really well, the combination in front was good,” Ancelotti said.
“They are supported by James, who is doing really well. I’m satisfied in front, we have to do better at the back.”
AFP
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