BBC Sport
Skip to main contentAccess keys helpA-Z index

| Help

---------------
---------------
CHOOSE A SPORT
RELATED BBC SITES
Last Updated: Sunday, 9 May, 2004, 17:02 GMT 18:02 UK
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Goalscorer Jose Antiono Reyes is congratulated by Thierry Henry
Premiership champions Arsenal are just one game from going through the season unbeaten after edging to victory.

Jose Antonio Reyes slotted into an empty net after dispossessing Fulham keeper Edwin Van der Sar.

It was a rare mistake from the Dutchman, who had earlier saved at the feet of Freddie Ljungberg.

Fulham were unlucky to lose, with Steed Malbranque and Moritz Volz going close as the home side had the better of their last match at Loftus Road.

Fulham's fans were in party mood as they bade farewell to their temporary home and looked forward to their return to a refurbished Craven Cottage next season.

But Arsenal behaved like imposing gatecrashers for the first 10 minutes, as they controlled the game.

And Van der Sar was quickly forced into a smart save at the feet of Ljungberg, who had raced on to Ray Parlour's throughball.

KEY MOMENT
9 mins: Reyes dispossesses Van Der Sar to score

But the Dutchman was to be horribly embarrassed shortly after.

Martin Djetou's backpass should have been easily dealt with, but Van der Sar miscontrolled the ball.

The gangly keeper then tried to sidestep Reyes, but was tackled and could only watch as the Spaniard slotted the ball into the goal.

Reyes, who opened his Premiership scoring account last time out at Portsmouth, is unlikely to add to his tally in easier fashion.

But Fulham responded well to the setback and began to dominate as Arsenal's post-title lethargy kicked in.

Luis Boa Morte should have done better when clean through on goal, but he fired straight at Jens Lehmann.

Fulham full-back Volz drove his side down the right as he fought a fascinating battle with Ashley Cole.

Volz's neat interchange with Malbranque earned the Frenchman a shooting chance and his curled effort flashed just past the upright.

At the other end Cole went close with a header and, later, Junichi Inamoto almost turned the England defender's cut back into his own net.

By contrast, the Premiership's top scorer Thierry Henry was no threat at all and his most notable contributions in the first half were two awful corner kicks.

After the break, Fulham continued to press and former Gunner Volz was again a real threat.

He came close to an equaliser after sprinting through the Arsenal defence and drilling a low shot narrowly wide.

By then Malbranque had already smashed an overhead kick over the bar as Arsenal looked increasingly edgy.

With Fulham in the ascendancy, Fulham boss Chris Coleman brought on forwards Brian McBride and Collins John.

And McBride nearly got on the end of a looping ball into the Arsenal box, but the Gunners held on to make it 37 games undefeated.


Fulham: Van der Sar, Volz, Goma, Pearce, Bocanegra, Djetou (John 58), Malbranque, Inamoto (McBride 58), Sean Davis, Legwinski, Boa Morte.
Subs Not Used: Crossley, Hudson, Petta.

Booked: Sean Davis.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Cole, Pires (Clichy 78), Vieira, Parlour, Ljungberg (Keown 87), Reyes (Aliadiere 71), Henry.
Subs Not Used: Stack, Bergkamp.

Booked: Vieira, Henry, Parlour.

Attendance: 18,102

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).




WATCH AND LISTEN
BBC Five Live's Simon Brotherton
"Arsenal were never close to losing their unbeaten record in this game"


Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
"It was maybe like an end-of-season game"




E-mail services | Sport on mobiles/PDAs


Back to top

Sport Homepage | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Snooker | Horse Racing | Cycling | Disability sport | Olympics 2012 | Sport Relief | Other sport...

BBC Sport Academy >> | BBC News >> | BBC Weather >>
About the BBC | News sources | Privacy & Cookies Policy | Contact us
banner watch listen bbc sport