Southampton 2 - 3 Fulham: Fonte’s late header rescues point for Saints

By SIMON PEACH
Published on 08/10/2012 02:41

Jose Fonte’s last-gasp header secured Southampton a point and saved defensive partner Jos Hooiveld’s blushes against Fulham.

SCORERS:

Southampton - Fonte (40, 90)

Fulham - Hooiveld (og 70), Richardson (88)

The Portuguese centre-back nodded home a 90th-minute leveller in a game in which he had broken the deadlock after just four minutes.

Hooiveld scored an own goal in Southampton’s 6-1 humbling at Arsenal and did so again on the south coast when he directed home a speculative John Arne Riise drive in the second half.

Hooiveld, who came on eight minutes into the clash after Frazer Richardson suffered a thigh injury, then saw Kieran Richardson’s close-range strike brush off him on its way in two minutes from time, although the goal was credited to the Fulham man.

However, Fonte saved the Dutchman and his side late on to earn Southampton a fourth point of the campaign.

The hosts began brightly and the returning Morgan Schneiderlin fired a wayward warning shot, before Rickie Lambert headed into the side-netting after connecting with a Danny Fox corner from the right.

Southampton had their second corner by the fourth minute and made their early dominance count. Adam Lallana floated the set-piece in from the left and Fonte’s glanced header at the near post looped over goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and into the far corner.

Into the second half and both sides made changes in a bid to change the match, but it was an earlier substitute whose impact was felt. Riise drilled a low shot from the left and centre-back Hooiveld could only direct it into his own goal, putting Fulham level in the 69th minute. The goal had been coming and the Cottagers threatened to go ahead, with substitute Kieran Richardson putting a Riether cross over.

Jay Rodriguez nodded wide for the hosts in stoppage time and Saints paid when Richardson fired home off Hooiveld’s leg two minutes from time. The substitute looked to have earned Fulham three points but he gave away a late free-kick from which Fonte headed home to earn Saints a point.