Stoke 1-2 Fulham: Harrison Reed's late strike sends Cottagers into FA Cup fifth round
Fulham recovered from a first-half deficit to beat Stoke City 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round, Harrison Reed slotting home a late winner after goalkeeper Tommy Simkin's misplaced pass. Jun-Ho Bae had put the Championship side ahead in the 19th minute, only for Kevin to level early in the second half before Reed's decisive intervention six minutes from time. Fulham progress to the fifth round, marking consecutive seasons reaching that stage for the first time since 2011.
Match report
At the bet365 Stadium, Stoke started brightly and deservedly took the lead on 19 minutes. The hosts worked a sweeping move down the right; Eric Bocat fed Jun-Ho Bae, who rifled a low, emphatic finish past Benjamin Lecomte from inside the area. The opener came after a lively opening that featured early chances at both ends, with Sorba Thomas forcing a save and Fulham spurning opportunities through Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz.
Fulham's reaction grew as the half wore on, but it was goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte who kept his side in the contest with a couple of key saves, notably denying Lamine Cisse with a fingertip stop that rattled the post. Changes from both managers following midweek league fixtures left both teams with altered line-ups, but the pattern remained: Stoke contained threat and looked dangerous on the break, while Fulham probed for openings.
The visitors emerged from the interval with greater intent. In the 55th minute, Brazilian winger Kevin cut inside from the left and drilled a low, first-time finish into the bottom corner to restore parity and inject momentum into Fulham's play. From that moment the Premier League side increasingly controlled proceedings, bringing on Raul Jimenez and Emile Smith Rowe as they pushed for a winner.
Turning points and the decisive moment
The match's defining moment arrived with six minutes remaining. Stoke keeper Tommy Simkin attempted a short pass from inside his penalty area to a team-mate; Reed anticipated the loose ball, snatched possession and calmly slotted home to give Fulham the lead. It was Reed's first FA Cup goal and his second goal of the season. The finish ended Stoke's recent momentum and sealed Fulham's place in the draw for the next round, which takes place on Monday (ET).
Two moments proved pivotal: Lecomte's earlier intervention to keep the deficit to one at half-time, and the late communication error at the back for Stoke that allowed Reed to pounce. Stoke had their chances to manage the game after taking the lead, including efforts that tested Lecomte, but Fulham's pressure after the break and superior control in the final 30 minutes swung the contest.
Implications for both sides
The result hands Fulham a welcome cup victory and ends a three-game losing streak across competitions. Progress to the fifth round continues a healthy recent run in the competition and gives Marco Silva's side a platform to build confidence ahead of league fixtures. The win also showcased squad depth, with several players stepping up after rotation.
For Stoke, the defeat extends a challenging spell. The Potters, who had not won since their previous-round victory, remain without a boost from this tie and will need to address lapses in possession and late-game concentration. There are injury and availability concerns to manage as they try to arrest a run of mixed results in the Championship.
Fulham now await opponents in the fifth-round draw on Monday (ET), while Stoke turn their attention back to domestic league duties and the task of steadying their campaign.
