Cardiff City 2-2 Fulham

Fulham had won at Cardiff City Stadium in the FA Cup third round in January

Fulham edged nearer to the Championship play-off places with a thrilling draw at Cardiff City.

Stefan Johansen struck on the break to put the visitors ahead, before Kenneth Zohore equalised in a breathless first half.

Zohore's powerful half-volley put Cardiff in front, but Neeskens Kebano levelled with a deflected effort.

Fulham stay seventh in the table, now five points adrift of the top six, Cardiff remain 12th.

A share of the points was fitting for two sides whose attacking endeavour made for a compelling spectacle, on the day Bluebirds manager Neil Warnock signed a new contract.

The end-to-end entertainment was in striking contrast to January's sparsely-attended FA Cup tie between the same teams, in which Fulham outclassed a much-changed Cardiff side.

On this occasion, they encountered more resistance from the Bluebirds' first string, who peppered the visiting goal in a high-octane start to the game.

Despite initially not enjoying as much possession as they did last month, Fulham's pace made them a threat on the counter-attack - as they proved for the opening goal.

Stefan Johansen scored his ninth goal of the season for Fulham

After a Cardiff free-kick was cleared, Tom Cairney fed Johansen, who sprinted clear and finished neatly inside the hosts' penalty area.

Warnock's side were not behind for long, with Zohore seizing on hesitant defending to stride forward and stroke the ball beyond David Button into the bottom corner.

Chances came at both ends at breakneck speed, and Cardiff maintained that intensity at the beginning of the second half.

Wingers Kadeem Harris and Junior Hoilett were a menace to the Fulham defence with their direct, quick running - but it was the impressive Zohore who made the most telling contributions.

His emphatic left-footed volley - his fourth goal in two games - looked like it would set the Bluebirds on their way to a fourth straight win.

But Slavisa Jokanovic's men salvaged a point as substitute Kebano's deflected shot dribbled apologetically into the net.

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock said: "Very good for the neutral. We had an opportunity to win the game - if we'd have been four up at half-time I don't think anyone could have complained.

"But they're a good side, we knew they'd have opportunities. To score from our corner is like Sunday League, so to do it twice in a season is more than enough.

"It was a kick in the teeth but we came back strongly again. We didn't sulk and got the equaliser and, once we went in front, I thought we'd score more.

"But give them credit. They came back and they're a good side. Both teams could feel disappointed they didn't win it."

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic said: "I believe the result is fair. We tried to use our weapons, Cardiff used a different style and created many chances.

"Cardiff are the best team in the Championship in 2017 so we didn't expect it to be easy.

"We created enough chances but we were not clinical. I'm disappointed but I have to accept the result as a fair result."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Cardiff

• 1McGregor
• 16Connolly
• 4Morrison
• 14Bamba
• 6Richards
• 11NooneSubstituted forJohnat 86'minutes
• 17GunnarssonBooked at 41mins
• 8Ralls
• 24K Harris
• 33Hoilett
• 26ZohoreBooked at 57mins

Substitutes

• 3Bennett
• 7Whittingham
• 12John
• 13Pilkington
• 15Halford
• 28Murphy
• 31M Harris

Fulham

• 27Button
• 2Fredericks
• 26Kalas
• 13Ream
• 3Malone
• 6McDonald
• 14Johansen
• 24Aluko
• 10Cairney
• 20PiazonBooked at 21minsSubstituted forKebanoat 25'minutes
• 11AyitéSubstituted forCyriacat 65'minutes

Substitutes

• 1Bettinelli
• 4Odoi
• 7Kebano
• 9Cyriac
• 15Madl
• 30R Sessegnon
• 35Adeniran

Referee:

Scott Duncan

Attendance:

15,656

Match Stats

Home TeamCardiffAway TeamFulham

Possession

Home28%

Away72%

Shots

Home18

Away16

Shots on Target

Home8

Away6

Corners

Home3

Away4

Fouls

Home11

Away5

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Cardiff City 2, Fulham 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Cardiff City 2, Fulham 2.

Posted at 90'+4'

Attempt missed. Stefan Johansen (Fulham) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Sone Aluko.

Posted at 90'

Declan John (Cardiff City) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Kenneth Zohore.

Posted at 89'

Attempt missed. Scott Malone (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Tom Cairney.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Tomas Kalas (Fulham).

Posted at 88'

Kenneth Zohore (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Substitution

Posted at 86'

Substitution, Cardiff City. Declan John replaces Craig Noone.

Posted at 84'

Tom Cairney (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City).

Posted at 83'

Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Allan McGregor.

Posted at 83'

Attempt saved. Sone Aluko (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Cyriac.

Posted at 78'

Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Matthew Connolly.

Posted at 76'

Tomas Kalas (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City).

Posted at 74'

Attempt missed. Sol Bamba (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Craig Noone with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 74'

Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Tomas Kalas.

Goal!

Posted at 68'

Goal! Cardiff City 2, Fulham 2. Neeskens Kebano (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tom Cairney.

Posted at 68'

Attempt blocked. Tom Cairney (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Stefan Johansen.

Posted at 67'

Attempt missed. Kadeem Harris (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

Substitution

Posted at 65'

Substitution, Fulham. Cyriac replaces Floyd Ayité because of an injury.

Posted at 65'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 63'

Delay in match Floyd Ayité (Fulham) because of an injury.

Posted at 62'

Floyd Ayité (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 62'

Foul by Joe Ralls (Cardiff City).

Posted at 61'

Offside, Cardiff City. Junior Hoilett tries a through ball, but Kadeem Harris is caught offside.

Posted at 60'

Attempt blocked. Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 59'

Attempt blocked. Craig Noone (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 58'

Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Sean Morrison.

Booking

Posted at 57'

Kenneth Zohore (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.

Goal!

Posted at 56'

Goal! Cardiff City 2, Fulham 1. Kenneth Zohore (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the high centre of the goal.

Posted at 55'

Attempt missed. Craig Noone (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Kenneth Zohore.

Posted at 52'

Foul by Ryan Fredericks (Fulham).

Posted at 52'

Kadeem Harris (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 51'

Attempt missed. Floyd Ayité (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Neeskens Kebano.

Posted at 49'

Offside, Cardiff City. Craig Noone tries a through ball, but Junior Hoilett is caught offside.

Second Half

Posted at

Second Half begins Cardiff City 1, Fulham 1.

Half Time

Posted at 45'+3'

First Half ends, Cardiff City 1, Fulham 1.

Posted at 45'+2'

Kevin McDonald (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 45'+2'

Foul by Kenneth Zohore (Cardiff City).

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