Rodrigo Muniz scored twice but electric Willian was the creative heart of an impressive Fulham display
: Getty Images/David Horton
The sky turned pink at full-time over Craven Cottage as the boys from Brazil danced the samba to bring a little glitz and glamour to a grey February afternoon by the Thames.
Willan and Rodrigo Muniz were the catalysts for a Fulham win which lifted them above opponents Bournemouth as Marco Silva’s side won their first league game in 2024.
Since the arrival of Armando Broja on loan from Chelsea at the end of the transfer window, Muniz has scored three times in two games, keeping Broja confined the bench.
“I’m really pleased for him Muniz,” said Silva. “When you have the chance you have to step in and when the chance is there you have to show your quality. He scored an important goal last week and this afternoon was probably his best performance in a Fulham shirt.
“When a striker in two games scores three goals, and not just the goals but the way he linked the game, it was really good to have him there. This is his third season for us but he is still really young and of course it is an emotional moment for him. Last season was not the best for him. We took the decision to send him out on loan (to Middlesbrough) and that loan didn’t work.”
Given the way these teams approach things, it was unsurprisingly an open, entertaining game. Fulham were in front after just five minutes when Bobby De Cordova-Reid capitalised on a slip by Lewis Cook to fire low into the corner from close range.
Willian was electric down the left and was denied a goal by Neto’s brilliant save after he had ghosted past Adam Smith. But soon it was Willian’s cross, headed back across goal, which saw Muniz score his first goal as he nipped in front of Illya Zabarnyi to score.
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