Ange Postecoglou’s bright new Tottenham dawn vanished by the River Thames as Fulham knocked them out of the Carabao Cup on penalties.
Postecoglou gambled on wholesale chances and lost, his team outplayed for 90 minutes and fortunate to take the tie into a shootout, where it was settled by Kenny Tete’s spot kick after Marek Rodak had saved from Davinson Sanchez.
It was no more than Fulham deserved, having outplayed Spurs and conjured enough chances to have won the tie in 90 minutes but were not clinical. An own goal by Micky van de Ven gave them the lead in the first half before Richarlison levelled early in the second.
Defeat means an exit at the earliest stage for Tottenham, extends their search for first trophy since 2008 and punctures the feelgood factor generated by a promising start under their new boss.
Spurs were slow to find any rhythm at Craven Cottage. Emerging in their dreary third kit, a dark beige, officially described as “taupe haze” but resembling the muddy waters of the Thames, they promptly disappeared into the evening drizzle.
Fulham beat Tottenham in a penalty shootout to advance to the Carabao Cup second round
Richarlison (left) pulled Spurs level by scoring his first goal of the new season
Micky van de Ven (right) handed Fulham an early lead after turning the ball into his own net
Brazilian striker Richarlison (middle) scored with a thumping header from close-range
Postecoglou’s nine changes to a team that won in style at Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday probably didn’t help.
His fringe collection lacked cohesion, and ‘keeper Fraser Forster and centre-half Sanchez appeared particularly awkward as they tried to play out from deep.
Fulham were quicker and sharper, and could have taken an early lead when Brazilian striker Rodrigo Muniz was presented with a terrific chance.
Antonee Robinson pounced on a poor pass by Sanchez, sprinted down the left wing, tearing past the Colombian defender and, in full stride, clipping an inviting ball high to the back post. Muniz climbed above Van de Ven but his header slid wide.
Fulham continued to dominate and took the lead 19 minutes into the tie courtesy of Van de Ven’s second own goal in four games, after one at Brentford on his debut.
Tom Cairney collected a pass from Bobby de Cordova-Ried and twisted past Sanchez not once but twice before cutting a low cross into the penalty area. Harrison Reed darted across Van de Ven without making contact and the ball struck Tottenham’s luckless Dutchman and spun into the net.
Six thousand Spurs fans in the Putney End fell silent. The goal was no less than the home side deserved and Marco Silva, serving a touchline ban for three yellow cards in as many Premier League games, nodded his approval from the empty section in the still-incomplete Riverside Stand.
Silva, who completed the signing of full-back Timothy Castagne from Leicester before kick-off, made six changes to the team that started Saturday’s draw at Arsenal, but his midfield trio of Joao Palhinha, Reed and Cairney controlled the first half.
Ange Postecoglou has lost his first match as Tottenham manager after being knocked out the Carabao Cup
Davinson Sanchez missed from the penalty spot to hand Fulham the advantage in the shootout
Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak (right) guessed the right direction and saved Sanchez’ (left) effort
Fulham’s Kenny Tete (right) scored the winning goal to send Fulham through to the next round
Forster stopped them from extending the lead with two saves from Muniz, the first with a boot after the Brazilian, who spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough, burst clear and the second a brilliant reaction, dropping low to his right to keep out a header.
Despite a bench full of first-teamers, Postecoglou’s response was to send 19-year-old Dane Scarlett to play up front with Richarlison in a 4-4-2 formation. The switch had the desired effect, helping Spurs further up the pitch and forcing Fulham ‘keeper Rodak into his first save of the night.
Rodak turned over one deflected shot by Richarlison and saw another fizz by from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg before conceding an equaliser, scored with Fulham down to 10 men because Kenny Tete had dashed into the dressing room to replace a torn boot.
Tete’s strike in the penalty shootout ensured Fulham would advance to the next round
De Cordova-Reid, filling in at right-back, was unable to stop Ivan Perisic finding space to deliver the cross met at the back post by Richarlison, whose header contained enough power to beat Tim Ream’s attempted clearance.
It was only his fourth goal in 12 months since a £60million move from Everton and his first since Harry Kane’s exit.
Fulham hit back, creating clear chances to win it in 90 minutes. De Cordova-Reid sliced wide when clean through and sub Harry Wilson was denied twice, first by Sanchez then Forster. Raul Jimenez headed over.
Rodak made a flying save from former Fulham winger Manor Solomon, at the other end, and Spurs boss Postecoglou was booked in the midst of a breathless finish as the tie went to penalties.
