{"id":93188,"date":"2023-09-18T07:36:03","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T07:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/?p=93188"},"modified":"2023-09-18T07:36:03","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T07:36:03","slug":"soul-of-sport-fulham-edged-past-premier-luton-town-at-craven-cottage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/soccer\/soul-of-sport-fulham-edged-past-premier-luton-town-at-craven-cottage\/","title":{"rendered":"SOUL OF SPORT: Fulham edged past Premier Luton Town at Craven Cottage"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
Welcome back to the Soul of Sport. For our latest episode of the series, ANDY HOOPER travelled to Craven Cottage on Saturday for Fulham’s Premier League clash with Luton.<\/p>\n
The Cottagers dominated possession in the match but were held by the newly-promoted side for more than an hour – who themselves missed some clear cut opportunities – before substitute Carlos Vinicius netted the winner after coming off the bench in his first appearance of the season.<\/p>\n
Marco Silva’s side moved up to ninth with the victory after a tumultuous summer when they lost star man Aleksandar Mitrovic to the riches of Saudi Arabia, while several other key players were targeted by other clubs. Meanwhile, Premier League newcomers Luton remain without a point after four games.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On a sunny day in west London, our man was there before and after the game to capture the atmosphere and drama from the famous old stadium, which sits on the bank of the River Thames.<\/p>\n
It was captured using a Nikon Z9 Camera with 24-70mm, 70-200mm and 400mm lenses.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Fulham entertained newly-promoted Luton Town in a Premier League clash at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Supporters of both Fulham and Luton mingle together outside of Craven Cottage ahead of the game getting underway at 3PM<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Craven Cottage is a picturesque and quaint old stadium and is based in the desirable west London postcode of SW6<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
One Luton supporter makes the most of what is their first season in the Premier League in their history with a custom T-shirt<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Craven Cottage is a beautiful ground that sits on the banks of the River Thames and it is just two miles from Stamford Bridge\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Supporters enjoy a pre-match beverage on a sunny day outside the ground as participants of the Great River Race pass by<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
One young supporter shows off their Fulham-themed face paint as they prepare to cheer on Marco Silva’s side on Saturday<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Another Cottagers fan takes a moment to relax ahead of the game as Fulham go in search of their second win of the season<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Fulham fans make their way to the stadium while wearing their team’s shirt, with their favourite players’ names on the back<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The famous ‘cottage’ at Craven Cottage, which is still used to this day to house both the home and away dressing rooms<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Four supporters show of their matching shirts, with the quartet huge fans of Fulham’s Brazilian midfielder Andreas Pereira<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The players receive a warm welcome onto the Craven Cottage pitch with Luton still in search of their first top flight points<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Fulham were frustrated for the first hour of the clash as they struggled to find their way through a resolute Hatters side<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Fulham supporters wave their scarves in memory of popular former owner\u00a0Mohamed Al-Fayed, who tragically died last month<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Luton supporters attempt to motivate their side after they came into the game with three losses from three league games<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
One Hatters supporter reacts in anguish after a missed chance, with striker Jacob Brown going closest when he hit the post<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Fulham’s Mexican forward Raul Jimenez attempts an audacious overhead kick from inside the penalty area, but to no avail<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Cottagers finally break the deadlock after 65 minutes thanks to substitute Carlos Vinicius (centre), who tapped home<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It was his first goal of the season on his first appearance after being an unused substitute in four previous league games<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The result takes Marco Silva’s side up to ninth in the league\u00a0after a tumultuous summer when they lost star man Aleksandar Mitrovic to the riches of Saudi Arabia, while several other key players and boss Silva were targeted by other clubs<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Fulham forward Bobby Decordova-Reid takes a walk around the Craven Cottage pitch after full-time with his young child\u00a0<\/p>\n