Sunderland AFC 2-3 Fulham FC
Sunderland fell to a 3-2 defeat against Fulham in a pulsating Emirates FA Cup match at the Stadium of Light.
Harry Wilson’s neat finish from the edge of the box give the Cottagers an early lead, but second-half strikes from Andreas and Layvin Kurzawa sealed victory for Marco Silva’s team.
Sunderland got back into the match through Jack Clarke and Jewison Bennette, both players perfectly executing their finishes to keep the tie alive.
Fulham got off to a flying start inside the first 10 minutes, Wilson collected Carlos Vinicius' short pass before curling the ball with the outside of his boot into Anthony Patterson's bottom corner.
The visitors almost doubled their lead midway through the first half, Wilson driving forward after picking up a loose ball inside his own half, but his tame effort was comfortably gathered by Patterson.
Wilson came close again minutes later for the hosts after Tom Cairney released the attacker down the right, but his shot was wide of Patterson’s far post.
Sunderland created their first opportunity of the match just after the half-hour mark. Amad forced Marek Rodak into a low save after initially linking up well with Patrick Roberts down the right-hand side.
The Black Cats came inches from levelling the scores in the opening exchanges of the second half, Dan Neil’s shot whistling just wide of Rodak’s left-hand post.
Rodak produced a brilliant spot to deny Roberts from close range seconds later. Amad was next to have a go, skilfully cutting inside but his attempt was cleared off the line by Shane Duffy.
Fulham doubled their lead against the run of play, substitute Aleksander Mitrovic cutting the ball back from an acute angle, providing Andreas with a simple tap-in from three yards out.
Clarke pulled a goal back for Sunderland inside the final 15 minutes, the winger cut inside before superbly curling his shot into Rodak’s top right-hand corner.
Kurzawa all but sealed victory for the Whites, Sunderland failed to clear a bouncing ball inside their danger area allowing the defender to hammer the ball into the roof of Patterson’s net.
Bennette set up a nervy final few minutes for the visitors, the substitute brilliantly finding Rodak’s top left-hand corner as the match entered injury time.
Fulham advanced on the night and move one step closer to Wembley. The Cottagers will now host Leeds United at Craven Cottage in the fifth round.
Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Batth ©, Ballard, Alese, Neil (O’Nien 63’), Michut (Ekwah 71’), Amad (Bennette 71’), Ba (Rigg 79’), Roberts (Pritchard 63’), Clarke.
Subs not used: Bass, Kelly, Johnson, Watson.
Fulham: Rodak, Tete (De Cordova-Reid 63’), Tosin, Duffy, Kurzawa, Palhinha (Reed 63’), Cairney ©, Harris (Mitrovic 46’), Wilson, Vinicius (Andreas 46’), Solomon (James 79’)
Subs not used: Leno, Robinson, Diop, James, Willian.
Goalscorers: Wilson 8’, Andreas 59’ Kurzawa 82’