Chukwueze bags assist, Iwobi reaches 240 starts, Okoye concedes three, Troost-Ekong endures defeat as Eagles return after World Cup heartbreak
Samuel Chukwueze continued to make his presence felt in the Premier League, providing his second assist of the season as Fulham defeated Sunderland 1-0 at Craven Cottage in a MatchWeek 12 clash.
The 26-year-old, on loan from Serie A giants AC Milan, came off the bench for Joshua King in the 64th minute and delivered a sublime low ball from the left into the six-yard area, which Raul Jimenez expertly steered past Robin Roefs.
The finish sealed Fulham’s fourth Premier League win of the campaign and underlined Chukwueze’s growing influence in England’s top flight.
Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey both started for Fulham, with Iwobi marking his 12th start in 12 games thereby extending his record to 240 Premier League starts in 303 matches.
Bassey, meanwhile, registered his 70th start in 76 games, further cementing his consistency at the back.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Tolu Arokodare made his first start since September and third overall since arriving in the summer, but he could not prevent Wolves from sliding deeper into relegation trouble as they suffered their 10th defeat in 12 matches, losing 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace.
Fellow Nigerian Chrisantus Uche was named among the substitutes for Palace but did not feature.
In the Championship, Joe Aribo came on as a second-half substitute for Finn Azaz in Southampton’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Charlton Athletic at The Valley.
Bright Osayi-Samuel also featured off the bench for Birmingham City, who thrashed Norwich City 4-1 at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium. Semi Ajayi, however, was an unused substitute as Hull City fell 3-2 to QPR at Loftus Road.
Across Europe, Maduka Okoye endured a difficult evening in Italy as Bologna put three past him in Udinese’s 3-0 defeat at the Bluenergy Stadium – Stadio Friuli.
In Saudi Arabia, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong played the full match for Al Kholood but could not prevent a 2-1 home loss to Al Hazm at the Al Hazem Club Stadium.
