Mladen Petric scored twice on his debut as Fulham crushed Norwich 5-0 on the first day of the Premier League season.

The Croatian striker headed in a Damien Duff corner and scored with a 25-yard effort that deflected in off City defender Michael Turner.

Duff poked in the first from 12 yards after latching onto John Arne Riise's through ball while Alex Kacaniklic tucked in the fourth from close range.

Steve Sidwell smashed in a late penalty after Hugo Rodellaga was bundled over.

Petric influence pleases Jol

The Cottagers bossed the match almost from the opening whistle with their quick, neat passing game leaving Norwich chasing shadows on a gloriously sunny day in west London.

Moussa Dembele and Bryan Ruiz were at the centre of much of Fulham's better work, controlling the middle of the pitch and feeding Duff down the right and Riise the left.

However, it took 18 minutes for the home side to have their first shot on goal and that came from a Norwich mistake - goalkeeper John Ruddy screwing a clearance straight at Ruiz but the Costa Rican's lobbed effort sailed over the crossbar.

Spurred on by the chance, Fulham created three of their own in quick succession but Ruddy was equal to each, showing why he won his first England cap in the midweek 2-1 friendly win over Italy.

Firstly, he was down smartly to keep out Riise's low drive, before gathering a tamer 20-yard Ruiz shot and palming a sharp Petric effort round the post.

Duff's delight

Fulham's Damien Duff has now scored in 13 Premier League seasons. The only other Irishman to match that record is Robbie Keane. Duff's first top-flight goal came in the 1997-98 season

The Fulham goal that looked so likely eventually came when Riise pinged a beautiful 60-yard crossfield pass to Duff and although Ruddy managed to get his right foot on the goal-bound shot, the ball spun into the net.

Petric doubled the lead before half-time, nodding in Duff's corner, to score his first goal for the Cottagers - assistant referee Charles Breakspear correctly ruling that the ball had crossed the line despite Jonny Howson's attempted clearance.

New Norwich manager Chris Hughton brought on Steve Morison at the start of the second half to give lone forward Grant Holt some support but with Fulham continuing to boss the midfield, they were getting little service.

Norwich were poor admits Hughton

Indeed it was Fulham who further extended their lead when a neat passing triangle involving Ruiz and Petric saw the latter find space 25 yards from goal and his left-foot effort deflected off Turner to leave Ruddy wrong-footed.

If the third goal had an element of fortune about it, the fourth was delightfully crafted with Petric flicking a Dembele pass into the path of Kacaniklic and the Swede neatly slotted the ball past Ruddy.

Petric was immediately substituted to a standing ovation and, with the game won, Duff was afforded the same accolade by manager Martin Jol.

Bradley Johnson's 25-yard drive was a rare highlight for the visiting fans but Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer kept the shot out with his knees.

With Norwich fans already beginning to drift away, Rodellaga was felled by Turner and Sidwell converted the penalty as Fulham maintained their record of never having lost a home Premier League game on the opening day of the season.

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (6)

Fulham

  • 01 Schwarzer
  • 03 Riise
  • 05 Hangeland
  • 18 Hughes
  • 27 Riether
  • 16 Duff (Kasami - 74' )
  • 19 Diarra
  • 31 Kacaniklic
  • 10 Petric (Rodallega - 68' )
  • 11 Ruiz (Sidwell - 81' )
  • 30 Dembele

Substitutes

  • 13 Stockdale
  • 02 Kelly
  • 06 Baird
  • 32 Halliche
  • 07 Sidwell
  • 08 Kasami
  • 20 Rodallega

Norwich City

  • 01 Ruddy
  • 02 R Martin
  • 06 Turner
  • 23 Tierney
  • 24 R Bennett
  • 04 Johnson
  • 08 Howson
  • 11 Surman (Morison - 46' )
  • 12 Pilkington
  • 07 Snodgrass (E Bennett - 56' )
  • 09 Holt (Hoolahan - 77' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Rudd
  • 20 Barnett
  • 14 Hoolahan
  • 17 E Bennett
  • 26 Lappin
  • 16 Morison
  • 19 Vaughan
Ref: Oliver
Att: 25,062

Match Stats

Shots

11 4

On target

9 2

Corners

6 3

Fouls

12 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +2:14 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +1:21

Brede Hangeland concedes a free kick for a foul on Steve Morison. Direct free kick taken by Russell Martin.

88:27

Foul by Mahamadou Diarra on Bradley Johnson, free kick awarded. Marc Tierney takes the free kick.

86:12

The assist for the goal came from Hugo Rodallega.

86:12 Goal scored

Goal - Steve Sidwell - Fulham 5 - 0 Norwich Power penalty scored by Steve Sidwell. Fulham 5-0 Norwich.

85:56

Penalty awarded for a foul by Michael Turner on Hugo Rodallega.

85:32

Outswinging corner taken by John Arne Riise from the left by-line played to the near post, Michael Turner manages to make a clearance.

85:07

Alex Kacaniklic takes a shot. Blocked by Russell Martin.

84:02

Elliott Bennett fouled by Steve Sidwell, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Wesley Hoolahan. Wesley Hoolahan produces a cross.

80:39 Substitution

Substitution Steve Sidwell replaces Bryan Ruiz.

80:06

Marc Tierney delivers the ball.

76:02 Substitution

Substitution (Norwich) makes a substitution, with Wesley Hoolahan coming on for Grant Holt.

74:32

Corner taken by Anthony Pilkington played to the near post, clearance by Hugo Rodallega.

73:32

Russell Martin takes the free kick.

73:32 Substitution

Substitution Damien Duff goes off and Pajtim Kasami comes on.

73:32

Bradley Johnson fouled by John Arne Riise, the ref awards a free kick.

70:57

The ball is sent over by Elliott Bennett.

70:27

The referee blows for offside against Damien Duff. Indirect free kick taken by Michael Turner.

69:11

The ball is sent over by John Arne Riise, clearance by Bradley Johnson.

68:37

The ball is delivered by Bradley Johnson, save made by Mark Schwarzer.

67:54

Bradley Johnson takes a shot. Save by Mark Schwarzer.

67:26 Substitution

Substitution Hugo Rodallega comes on in place of Mladen Petric.

65:41

Mladen Petric provided the assist for the goal.

65:41 Goal scored

Goal - Alex Kacaniklic - Fulham 4 - 0 Norwich Alex Kacaniklic finds the net with a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Fulham 4-0 Norwich.

63:59

Elliott Bennett crosses the ball, save made by Mark Schwarzer.

63:36

A cross is delivered by Elliott Bennett, clearance by Aaron Hughes.

58:16

The ball is sent over by Marc Tierney, save made by Mark Schwarzer.

57:27

Sascha Riether fouled by Anthony Pilkington, the ref awards a free kick. Mark Schwarzer restarts play with the free kick.

57:04

Bryan Ruiz concedes a free kick for a foul on Elliott Bennett. Jonathan Howson takes the direct free kick.

56:24

The offside flag is raised against Steve Morison. Mark Schwarzer takes the indirect free kick.

55:52 Substitution

Substitution Robert Snodgrass leaves the field to be replaced by Elliott Bennett.

53:45

The assist for the goal came from Bryan Ruiz.

53:45 Goal scored

Goal - Mladen Petric - Fulham 3 - 0 Norwich Mladen Petric finds the back of the net with a goal from long range to the top left corner of the goal. Fulham 3-0 Norwich.

52:22

The ball is crossed by Steve Morison, Steve Morison makes a save.

52:22

The ball is swung over by Robert Snodgrass, save by Mark Schwarzer.

50:49

Unfair challenge on Michael Turner by Mladen Petric results in a free kick. Michael Turner restarts play with the free kick.

48:23

The ball is sent over by John Arne Riise, clearance made by Michael Turner.

47:46

Effort on goal by Anthony Pilkington from long range goes harmlessly over the target.

47:17

The official flags Damien Duff offside. John Ruddy takes the free kick.

45:43

Foul by Bradley Johnson on Mahamadou Diarra, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Aaron Hughes.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Andrew Surman goes off and Steve Morison comes on.

45:00 +1:12 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +0:23

Damien Duff gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marc Tierney. Direct free kick taken by John Ruddy.

44:09

Sascha Riether takes a shot. Blocked by Anthony Pilkington. Corner taken by Damien Duff from the left by-line, Marc Tierney manages to make a clearance.

43:41

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Damien Duff, clearance by Marc Tierney.

42:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Moussa Dembele by Bradley Johnson. Bryan Ruiz has an effort direct from the free kick, save by John Ruddy.

40:49

Assist on the goal came from Damien Duff.

40:49 Goal scored

Goal - Mladen Petric - Fulham 2 - 0 Norwich Mladen Petric scores a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Fulham 2-0 Norwich.

40:33

Damien Duff takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post,

35:05

Mladen Petric fouled by Marc Tierney, the ref awards a free kick. Sascha Riether delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, save made by John Ruddy. Corner from the left by-line taken by Damien Duff, Unfair challenge on Michael Turner by Mahamadou Diarra results in a free kick. John Ruddy takes the free kick.

34:01

Free kick awarded for a foul by Anthony Pilkington on Sascha Riether. Sascha Riether takes the direct free kick.

31:51

Foul by Moussa Dembele on Grant Holt, free kick awarded. Robert Snodgrass produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

29:35

Grant Holt fouled by Brede Hangeland, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Ryan Bennett.

28:21

Centre by Marc Tierney.

25:16

John Arne Riise provided the assist for the goal.

25:16 Goal scored

Goal - Damien Duff - Fulham 1 - 0 Norwich Damien Duff scores a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Fulham 1-0 Norwich.

24:46

Mahamadou Diarra fouled by Grant Holt, the ref awards a free kick. Mahamadou Diarra takes the free kick.

24:06

Corner taken by Damien Duff.

23:45

Mladen Petric takes a shot. Save made by John Ruddy.

22:09

Bryan Ruiz takes a shot. Save by John Ruddy.

21:32

John Arne Riise takes a shot. John Ruddy makes a save.

19:36

Unfair challenge on Damien Duff by Michael Turner results in a free kick. Damien Duff takes the direct free kick.

17:52

Shot from just outside the box by Bryan Ruiz goes over the crossbar.

17:30

Centre by Damien Duff, Jonathan Howson manages to make a clearance.

16:06

Andrew Surman takes a shot. Save made by Mark Schwarzer. Robert Snodgrass takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Mladen Petric.

14:48

Michael Turner gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Damien Duff. Bryan Ruiz crosses the ball in from the free kick, save made by John Ruddy.

13:50

Robert Snodgrass fouled by Brede Hangeland, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by John Ruddy.

11:53

Damien Duff crosses the ball, save by John Ruddy.

9:09

The ball is sent over by Sascha Riether, clearance by Russell Martin.

8:57

Centre by Alex Kacaniklic.

7:04

Bradley Johnson concedes a free kick for a foul on Bryan Ruiz. Free kick crossed by Bryan Ruiz, Marc Tierney manages to make a clearance.

5:16

Corner taken by Robert Snodgrass from the right by-line played to the near post, Mahamadou Diarra makes a clearance.

4:22

Free kick awarded for a foul by Sascha Riether on Anthony Pilkington. Bradley Johnson takes the free kick.

1:15

Free kick awarded for a foul by Bradley Johnson on Alex Kacaniklic. Direct free kick taken by Mahamadou Diarra.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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