Fulham defeated Sunderland to set up matchup with Leeds

• Harry Wilson scored early in the fourth-round replay.
• Jack Clarke’s sublime shot in the final 15 minutes.
• Fulham manager Marco Silva made nine changes due to a touchline ban.

Fulham defeated Championship playoff contender Sunderland to set up a matchup with Leeds United in the FA Cup’s fifth round.

A significantly altered Fulham team took the lead early in the fourth-round replay when Harry Wilson scored. The winger was set up by Carlos Vincius and fired his shot into the bottom corner with the outside of his boot.

Just before the hour mark, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Andreas Pereira teamed up to score Fulham’s second goal. The Serbian striker did brilliantly to retain the ball in play on the byline and flick it back for his fellow substitute to score.

Within the final 15 minutes, Jack Clarke’s sublime shot into the far corner off of an assist from Ajibola Alese gave Sunderland hope of a comeback.

With stoppage time approaching, replacement Jewison Bennette coolly hoisted into the corner from close range to narrow the score, but after a brave effort, the Black Cats fell short.

“We’ve been working hard to achieve this level and establish a winning attitude,” Fulham manager Marco Silva said from the stands owing to a touchline ban.

“I knew before the game that it wasn’t going to be the best, so I made nine changes, but we’re happy.”

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