After a low-key opening to the game, the Cottagers suddenly created a golden opportunity to take the lead midway through the first half. However, Raúl Jiménez should have done better with his close-range effort, allowing Bart Verbruggen to make a vital save at his near post.
Fulham were soon made to pay for that squandered chance, as Yasin Ayari’s bullet strike from just inside the box found the top corner in spectacular fashion to edge the Seagulls in front and take his PL goal tally for the season to three.
Fabian Hürzeler’s team then went agonisingly close to extending their lead shortly afterwards, when Kaoru Mitoma’s initial attempt following a quick counter was saved by Bernd Leno before Ferdi Kadıoğlu’s rebound was cleared off the line by Timothy Castagne.
The first notable opportunity of the second half fell to the visitors, as Danny Welbeck steered his close-range attempt wide of the post after Mitoma headed the ball across the face of goal.
With less than 20 minutes remaining and the game in danger of petering out, it suddenly exploded back into life. Having looked second best for large portions of the encounter, Fulham grabbed an equaliser when Samuel Chukwueze latched onto a sublime 50-yard pass from Joachim Andersen and finished smartly past Leno to set up a grandstand finale.
Remarkably, fewer than 90 seconds later, Brighton thought they had reclaimed the lead when an exquisite through ball from Mitoma played in Welbeck, and he found the back of the net. However, VAR came to the home team’s rescue, with the goal eventually ruled out for offside.
In the latter stages of the contest, Welbeck got off a free header in a great position, but Leno produced a vital save to tip the ball over the bar and keep the Seagulls on level terms.
In the latter stages of the contest, Welbeck got off a free header in a great position, but Leno produced a vital save to tip the ball over the bar and keep the Seagulls in the game.
It felt like a moment of magic was needed for either side to find a last-ditch winner, and that proved to be the case, as Harry Wilson scored a magnificent free-kick to seal the victory for Fulham in dramatic fashion.
A win for Fulham sees Marco Silva’s side move up to seventh position in the league table, and the Cottagers will aim to continue their strong form next weekend when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Brighton remain in 12th place and will host Everton in the league next Saturday, with this result ending a run of five games without a loss.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Harry Wilson (Fulham)