Fulham qualify for Championship final

Fulham qualified for the Championship final despite a 1-2 loss to Cardiff City in the second leg of their play-off semi-final. The Cottagers held on to progress 3-2 on aggregate and will now meet west London rivals Brentford in the showpiece game at Wembley.

The hosts finished eight points better off than their opponents at the end of the regular season and held a 2-0 lead from Monday’s first leg in south Wales.

No team has overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit in the play-offs but Cardiff gave themselves real hope inside eight minutes at Craven Cottage through Curtis Nelson’s close-range header. Fulham required 54 seconds to restore their two-goal aggregate advantage, however, with Neeskens Kebano – on target late in the first leg – sweeping a low shot past Alex Smithies.

The tie took another twist 82 seconds into the second half when Lee Tomlin, introduced at half-time, volleyed in after Nathan Mendez-Laing’s header was parried by Marek Rodak.

Aboubakar Kamara had a long-ranger tipped on to the post by Alex Smithies before Cardiff asked the questions late on, though Fulham withstood the pressure and will face neighbours Brentford – 3-2 aggregate winners over Swansea City on Wednesday – at Wembley on August 4.