Rodrigo Muniz on target as Fulham cruise through

Rodrigo Muniz celebrates scoring (John Walton/PA)

Rodrigo Muniz struck his first goal in a year as Fulham swept aside AFC Wimbledon 3-0 to set up a Carabao Cup third-round tie against West Ham.

Muniz had not hit the target since the opening day of a 2025-26 season that saw him miss four months through injury but his header provided Fulham’s second against their London neighbours.

Emile Smith Rowe delivered the opener and the only mystery at Craven Cottage was how they failed to win more emphatically having also created a host of chances in the second-half until Gonzalo Garcia eventually scored in the 94thminute.

It was a first victory under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa, who made 10 changes to the side beaten 3-2 by Chelsea on Monday night with only Oscar Bobb retained and summer signing Shea Charles making his first start.

League One outfit Wimbledon are now without a win in five matches this season and they faced an uphill struggle from the start as Ryan Sessegnon and Kevin repeatedly stretched their defence.

A rare attack from the underdogs ended when Andy Yiadom blasted a shot straight at keeper Benjamin Lecomte, but they were then forced to scramble with only a determined tackle by Steve Seddon halting Smith Rowe as he charged towards the goal.

Kenny Tate flashed a header high over the crossbar as Fulham piled on the pressure and Smith Rowe should have done better with an attempt that drifted narrowly wide.

Wimbledon created another chance when Callum Maycock’s glancing effort threatened briefly, but it was only another temporary interruption to the theme of white shirts swarming the visiting penalty area.

Fulham delivered their inevitable opener in the 37th minute when a long cross by Tate was deflected towards Smith Rowe and the former Arsenal midfielder nodded home from short range.

The impressive Tate again delivered the ball for the second shortly after and this time it was Muniz who beat keeper Nathan Bishop with a towering header.

Substitute Macaulay Zepa and Tete linked nicely as Fulham resumed attacking after a slow start to the second-half and Bishop then kept out Kevin.

Zepa was causing havoc down the right following his arrival at half-time but his team were becoming increasingly wasteful as chances came and went, although the visiting defence were also showing resilience.

Wimbledon pushing forward late meant they were hit on the counter and sure enough Garcia took advantage in injury-time by rounding the keeping and rolling the ball home.