Luton Town 2-4 Fulham. Raul Jimenez scored twice as Fulham beat relegated Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on the final day of the Premier League season.
Adama Traore produced an unerring finish into the bottom corner as Fulham took the lead just before the break.
But after Calvin Bassey was adjudged to have fouled Chiedozie Ogbene, Carlton Morris rolled home a penalty to equalise.
Jimenez restored Fulham’s lead deep into first-half added time, slotting in a first-time effort from Harry Wilson’s pass.
The Mexico international then got in front of the Luton defence and headed home his second from a Harrison Reed free-kick minutes after the interval.
Alfie Doughty’s free-kick reduced the deficit but Marco Silva’s side restored their two-goal advantage when Wilson curled into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Luton can be proud of their general performances across the season, but their defending on the final day showed exactly why they will be returning to the Championship.
To underline the point, there were just 67 seconds between their equaliser and Fulham’s second goal.
The Hatters conceded 85 league goals this season – with only Sheffield United (104) and Darmstadt (86) letting in more across Europe’s top five leagues.
But while Luton failed to win any of their final six games, they did score in each of their last seven – highlighting the fact they did not go down without a fight.
Morris’ penalty meant he finished the season with 11 league goals – more than any other Luton player. Doughty, another of their top performers, signed off with his second goal of the season.
Their fans stayed behind long after the final whistle to ensure the players returned to the pitch to rapturous applause.
Rob Edwards’ side may have had a brief stay in the division but there is no doubt it has been a memorable one.
Speaking after the match, the Luton boss said: “We are a special club. We have got unique support – we have had that all season long. Everyone that has travelled has shown their best.
“We have given our best this year and ultimately we have just come up short. If one game could almost tell a season’s story, that would be today.
“We showed really good moments, created chances, didn’t take them, conceded from a mistake, then were punished with a brilliant finish, equalised and then conceded straight after.
“Full of endeavour, some really good quality at times as well, but just a little bit too fragile.”
Wilson was sublime against a Luton side who were unable to cope with him.
The Welsh winger scored once and provided two assists – becoming the first Fulham player to have three ‘direct goal contributions’ in a Premier League match since Dimitar Berbatov against Arsenal in November 2012.
He cut inside and passed to Traore for Fulham’s opener and found Jimenez in space for his first goal.
After the break, he struck the crossbar after Reed’s clever backheel from a free-kick.
But eight minutes later he scored the goal his performance deserved, curling home as Fulham finished the season with a flourish.
Fulham boss Silva said: “Some very good goals from ourselves.
“The fourth goal is another good example, a great open-play moment from us and a great goal from ourselves.
“There were some very good individual performances and the collective performance was good as well. We deserved [the result], we were the best team on the pitch.
“Unfortunately, we conceded two goals that we should avoid as well, but three points to end the season, away from home, it was important.”
source – BBC
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