Goals from Carlos Vinicius and Alex Iwobi won the game for the Cottagers, but more than 2,000 travelling supporters left West London feeling relatively positive after summer signing Borja Sainz opened his Canaries goalscoring account on his debut for the club.
City started well, but it was Fulham who found the first goal. Iwobi volleyed Tom Cairney’s free-kick across the face of goal, and Vinicius couldn’t miss from a yard out.
Both Tony Springett and Hwang Ui-Jo should have equalised with guilt-edged chances midway through the first half, but both fluffed their lines with big opportunities.
Vinicius then had a real opportunity to double his side’s lead, but drove wide of the near post from 12 yards. The same man should have made it 2-0 again 11 minutes into the second half, but debutant Jaden Warner got back to deny him last ditch.
That was after Liam Gibbs, Sam McCallum and Kellen Fisher had come close for the visitors, in a bright start to the half.
But Fulham struck next after a period of dominance, Iwobi passing into the far corner to seemingly put the game beyond doubt.
Sainz had other ideas, however, driving forward and finishing past Marek Rodak with aplomb after Jonathan Rowe found him through on goal.
Norwich couldn’t find an equalising goal however, and will face Birmingham on Saturday having been knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the third round stage.
FULHAM:
Substitutes:
17. Leno (GK)
6. Reed
13. Ream (on for Bassey, 83)
14. Decordova-Reid (on for Willian, 79)
18. Pereira
19. Muniz (on for Vinicius, 79)
33. Robinson (on for Ballo-Toure, 69)
35. Francois
38. Harris
Head Coach: Marco Silva
Bookings:
Goals: Vinicius (12), Iwobi (72)
NORWICH CITY
Substitutes:
39. Reyes
3. Stacey
7. Sainz (on for Placheta, 62)
11. Idah (on for Hernandez, 62)
16. Fassnacht
17. Sara (on for Forshaw, 70)
23. McLean (on for Hwang, 77)
24. Duffy
27. Rowe (on for Springett, 70)
Head Coach: David Wagner
Bookings: McCallum (16), Warner (77)
Goals: Sainz (75)
KEY MOMENTS
12 – GOAL FULHAM (Vinicius): Iwobi volleys a free-kick across the face of goal, and Vinicius can’t miss from close range.
18 – Willian curls a shot towards goal from range, but it flies wide of the far post.
19 – McCallum finds Placheta in space and he cuts back for Placheta, whose cutback finds Springett. The Irishman then drags his shot inexplicably wide.
26 – Bassey’s failed clearance falls to Hwang, who should score but blasts straight at Rodek.
39 – Ballo-Toure cuts back for Vinicius in the box, but he fires just wide of the near post.
Half time – Fulham 1-0 Norwich City
48 – Gibbs and McCallum come close, before Fisher’s looped effort hits the post and bounces away.
56 – Wilson heads into Vinicius’ path, but Warner makes a vital last-ditch clearance to deny the striker a tap-in.
72 – GOAL FULHAM (Iwobi): Iwobi passes into the corner from the edge of the box for 2-0.
75 – GOAL NORWICH (Sainz): Sainz loses the ball but it breaks for Rowe to tee him up and he dispatches with aplomb.
85 – Muniz heads towards goal, but Long gets down well to claw his effort away.
Full time – Fulham 2-1 Norwich City
PLAYER RATINGS
Long 7, Fisher 7, Warner 8, Gibson 6, McCallum 6, Forshaw 7, Gibbs 6, Hernandez 5, Springett 4, Placheta 7, Hwang 4. Subs: Sainz 7, Idah 5, Sara 5, Rowe 6, McLean 5.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 70pc-30pc
Shots: 19-11
On target: 3-3
Corners: 15-2
Fouls: 4-11
Added time: 2 mins/5 mins
REFEREE: Craig Pawson
ATTENDANCE: 12,831
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