Bournemouth 1-1 Fulham - Dominic Solanke equalises from spot in added time for Cherries

Aleksandar Mitrovic heads in for FulhamImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his 41st Championship goal of the season

Dominic Solanke's 98th-minute penalty snatched a point for Bournemouth in a 1-1 draw against Championship leaders Fulham.

Aleksandar Mitrovic's 41st league goal of the season, awarded via goalline technology, looked to have all but sealed the title for the Cottagers.

But the Cherries won a penalty deep into added time as Harry Wilson was penalised for a foul on Adam Smith, with Fulham boss Marco Silva sent off for his protests against the decision.

Solanke stepped up to slot the ball home for his 27th league goal of the season and keep the title race alive for another week.

A stop-start first half went by largely without incident and the spark came soon after the restart when Wilson, who had been Fulham's best player, crossed for Mitrovic to out climb Nat Philips and divert his header goalward.

Mark Travers looked to have made a smart save on the line but referee Graham Scott's watch alerted him to blow the whistle as the ball had just crossed the line.

Tosin Adarabioyo headed against the bar as the Cottagers looked to double their lead, Wilson again playing the ball in before Tim Ream nodded the ball down for his centre-back partner to hit the woodwork.

Bournemouth upped the intensity as they went in search of an equaliser but Fulham thought they had done enough to close out the game and essentially win the title.

But a late, late Wilson challenge on Smith was deemed a foul as the referee pointed to the spot.

Silva was dismissed for his remonstrations and Solanke scored in the eighth minute of time added on to delay Fulham's title celebrations.

The visitors can secure the trophy with a win against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, while eight points from the Cherries' four remaining games will guarantee that Scott Parker's side will join Fulham in the Premier League next season.

Bournemouth boss Scott Parker: "They scored a goal which looks a little bit dubious. It doesn't look like the whole ball has crossed the line so I think that's a little bit harsh.

"Maybe technology was faulty or the camera was not lined up properly, I don't know.

"It was well-deserved point for sure. It was a match between two very good sides.

"In the second half I felt we took them to certain depths and really nullified their opportunities.

"In the end I thought physical prowess and endeavour got us the penalty.

"I didn't see why Marco got sent off. It was edgy at times, it was a bit nitty gritty and I don't think anyone would have wanted it any different."

Fulham boss Marco Silva told BBC Radio London: "It's tough for us, for me it's a mistake from the referee [to award the penalty], that's made a big impact on the game.

"It wasn't a great game to watch, both teams didn't perform to their best in my opinion.

"I saw just one picture [of Mitrovic's goal] and I saw the ball over the line."

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