Fulham finally reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup after their penalty shootout win over Everton last night, with Antonee Robinson taking one of the decisive spot kicks.
It was a huge result for Marco Silva’s side as they patiently wait to see if it’s Middlesbrough, Chelsea or either Liverpool or West Ham that stand between the Whites and a match at Wembley.
Antonee Robinson was speaking to the club’s official website and reflecting on a tense shootout.
Marco Silva made several changes to the team that lost away to Newcastle, with Raul Jimenez suspended and Tom Cairney and Timothy Castagne among those dropping to the bench.
It was an even contest until Robinson made the biggest contribution of the first half.
The American international linked up with Willian as he has done all season and his dangerous low cross was turned into his own net by Michael Keane.
It was a move Fulham fans have seen all season and Everton were the latest team that couldn’t deal with Robinson’s delivery.
Beto equalised late in the game for the hosts and every Fulham fan would have expected the worst when the match went to penalties.
But the mentality of Marco Silva’s team is different and despite Bobby De Cordova-Reid being denied by Jordan Pickford, Bernd Leno bailed him out and Tosin Adarabioyo was the unlikely hero at the end of the shootout.
Robinson names Fulham player who gave him confidence during Everton shootout win
Speaking about whether he felt pressure taking his first professional penalty, Robinson said: “I didn’t really feel the pressure to be honest! Somebody had already missed so I didn’t really care, that’s kind of how I’ve been practising penalties in training the last few weeks, to walk up slowly and watch the keeper.
“And then seeing AP [Andreas Pereira] sit [Jordan] Pickford down early on, it made me think, right I can wait and go at the last second.
“It’s the first penalty I’ve ever taken in a pro match so I’ll take it.”
Andreas Pereira is one of the coolest customers on the pitch and it’s no surprise that his expertly taken spot kick gave Robinson and his teammates confidence.
Jordan Pickford has been a hero between the sticks in penalty shootouts for England before but he was expertly beaten by Fulham’s players time and again last night.
Robinson and his Fulham teammates will know how close they are to achieving something special with the club after defeating Everton.
The Goodison Park hoodoo has been well and truly quashed in the last few years and the last thing we want right now is for them to move into a new stadium any time soon.