Premier League fans were treated to another exciting goalfest in the Summer Series as Fulham edged past Brentford 3-2 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with substitute Carlos Vinicius making up for the absence of first-choice striker Aleksandar Mitrovic with the decisive goal.
Mitrovic, Fulham's leading scorer last season, was excluded from the matchday squad after reports he wants to play in Saudi Arabia. But Vinicius, the Brazilian forward who started up front and registered five goals while Mitrovic served a long ban last season, put his case to be the first-choice forward by scoring within a minute of coming on at half-time.
After Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion served up a seven-goal thriller the previous day, this match also got off to an electric start, with Harry Wilson's superb curling effort from outside the area putting Fulham in front after only three minutes.
Less than a quarter of an hour later Brentford were level through Yoane Wissa, who tapped the ball in at the far post after Keane Lewis-Potter had flicked on Mathias Jensen's inswinging corner.
Bryan Mbeumo came close to emulating Wilson's goal, curling a left-footed shot against the far post. But just as Brentford seemed to hold the upper hand, Fulham restored their lead.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid cut inside and from outside the area his low shot beat new Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken at his near post.
Fulham were dealt a blow when they lost midfielder Joao Palhinha, who was playing centre-back, with an apparent dislocated shoulder.
Fast start to second half
As in the first half, Fulham got off to a flyer in the second. Vinicius doubled their lead, converting neatly 60 seconds after the restart.
But within a couple of minutes Brentford hit back through a fierce shot from another substitute Kristoffer Ajer.
A brilliant fingertip save from David Raya prevented Willian's curling shot from making it 4-2, while at the other end new Brentford defender Nathan Collins had a great chance to equalise when the ball fell to him in the area, but he could only shoot straight at Bernd Leno.
That was the final action of an exciting match, the first of a double-header, with Newcastle United also taking on Aston Villa in the same stadium on the same day.
Fulham next take on Villa in Orlando on Wednesday, just after Brentford face Brighton in Atlanta.
