Substitute Kamara Fulham's hero as Hull let it slip again

Posted Sunday, December 31, 2017 by PA

Substitute Aboubakar Kamara scored twice as Fulham came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw at Hull.

Jarrod Bowen and Nouha Dicko gave the hosts a deserved two-goal lead at the KCOM Stadium, but the Sky Bet Championship strugglers failed to cope with Kamara in the second half.

The Frenchman scored a penalty three minutes after the interval and equalised with a well-placed finish late on.

Hull's only change saw top scorer Bowen make his first start under Nigel Adkins, with Kamil Grosicki missing out with an ankle problem.

Slavisa Jovanovic kept faith with the XI which won 4-2 at Cardiff on Boxing Day - but his side were well off the pace in the opening period.

The hosts had already served notice of their threat from set-pieces prior to Bowen's opener, with Denis Odoi heading a Jon Toral free-kick over his own bar before Dicko deflected Sebastian Larsson's cross narrowly wide.

The opening goal came after 32 minutes as Bowen prodded home at the back post after Fulham failed to deal with Toral's corner.

Four minutes later Dicko smashed a left-footed effort into the roof of the net to double Hull's lead, with Toral again the provider - this time with a clever through-ball.

Jokanovic had clearly seen enough and five minutes before half-time replaced Floyd Ayite and Sheyi Ojo with Neeskens Kebano and Kamara.

Michael Hector fired over from 12 yards after Bowen's free-kick evaded the Fulham defence, before Kebano headed the visitors' first meaningful chance a fraction wide in first-half stoppage time.

Dicko had a shot tipped over by Marcus Bettinelli at the start of the second half but three minutes later the Cottagers were handed a lifeline when Kamara was needlessly brought down by Hector inside the area. The Frenchman picked himself up to rifle the spot-kick past Allan McGregor.

Ola Aina's powerful effort was kept out by Bettinelli, while at the other end Kebano's cross fell for former Hull midfielder Tom Cairney but Jackson Irvine was on hand to make a vital block.

Kebano hit a tame effort straight at McGregor but Hull should have restored their two-goal cushion when Bettinelli parried Dicko's 70th-minute effort to Bowen, only for the forward to shoot straight at the goalkeeper.

Kamara wasted a golden chance 11 minutes from time when he blazed over after Ryan Sessegnon had surged into the box, but converted with a cool finish following a slick move with five minutes remaining as Hull's habit of conceding late goals cost them dearly again.