Stoke 1-2 Fulham: Harrison Reed scores late winner for Premier League club
Fulham recovered from a first-half setback to beat Championship side Stoke City 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round, with Harrison Reed capitalising on a late goalkeeper error to fire the Premier League outfit into the fifth round. Jun-Ho Bae had given Stoke the lead, but Fulham hit back through Kevin before Reed struck six minutes from time to settle the tie.
Second-half fightback seals progression
The match at the bet365 Stadium began brightly for the hosts as Jun-Ho Bae put Stoke ahead in the 19th minute, rifling home after a well-worked move. Fulham's response grew after the interval as the visitors, many rotated following midweek fixtures, gathered momentum and levelled in the 55th minute when Brazilian winger Kevin cut inside and drilled a low finish past goalkeeper Tommy Simkin.
Fulham's bench then swung the tie decisively. Raul Jimenez and Emile Smith Rowe were introduced as the visitors pushed for a winner, putting Stoke under sustained pressure. The decisive moment arrived late when Simkin, under pressure while attempting to play out from the back, slipped while passing the ball. Reed seized on the loose possession, composedly slotting the ball home to make it 2-1 and send Marco Silva's side through to the fifth round.
The result ended a run of three consecutive defeats for Fulham across all competitions and extended Stoke's winless streak to six matches in all competitions since their previous cup victory in January.
Key moments and tactical shifts
Both managers made significant changes to their starting XIs after midweek fixtures. Stoke made five alterations, and the home side started with energy: Sorba Thomas rattled a half-volley that forced a save from Fulham keeper Benjamin Lecomte early on, and Ashley Phillips nearly connected at the back post from a set-piece.
Lecomte produced several key stops, including a brilliant tip onto the post to deny Lamine Cisse early in the second half and a pair of strong saves to keep Kevin out before half-time. Fulham, though rotated, began to find cohesion after the break, with January signing Oscar Bobb handed a first start and Alex Iwobi marking his 100th appearance for the club.
Stoke's opener was the product of slick interplay; Tomas Rigo fed Eric Bocat, who found Bae with a precise cross and the South Korea midfielder smashed a first-time finish past Lecomte. That goal left the hosts looking confident, but Fulham's tactical tweaks and greater intensity after half-time changed the balance. Kevin's leveller was the product of direct, forward running and quick finishing, and Reed's late intervention was a reminder of the thin margins that decide knockout ties.
Implications and what comes next
The victory keeps Fulham on course in the cup and hands a morale boost ahead of upcoming fixtures. The Cottagers have reached the latter stages of this competition in recent seasons, and progression to the fifth round maintains that momentum. Stoke will rue the late error and missed chances, with the hosts still searching for a win after a difficult run of form.
The draw for the FA Cup fifth round will take place Monday (ET), with Fulham awaiting their opponents. For Stoke, attention quickly turns back to the league as they seek to arrest their slump, while Fulham will look to build on this comeback as they balance cup ambitions with top-flight commitments.
