REPORT: Fulham 1-1 Wednesday
An early strike from Fernando Forestieri looked to have given Wednesday a vital win at in-form Fulham only for Scott Malone to score right at the last to salvage a point.
Forestieri finished a well-crafted move to send the Owls into the lead but Malone’s late intervention meant an entertaining encounter at Craven Cottage finished all square.
Openings were made at both ends but the first one counted as the Owls hit the front on nine minutes.
The lively figure of Forestieri sold his marker a dummy and collected the return ball from Gary Hooper to slot across David Button and in.
Wednesday deserved the lead too after taking the game to Fulham and controlling the early exchanges.
But the Cottagers responded with Kevin McDonald heading narrowly wide before the Owls countered themselves and Barry Bannan unleashed a wicked drive from distance that flew just over.
Fulham had a penalty appeal turned down after a coming together involving Bannan and Stefan Johansen as the hosts sought an equaliser before the break.
But Wednesday had the best chance and might have gone two goals to the good when Hooper burst clear on goal only to stab wide of Button.
Ross Wallace fired inches past the post moments later and the Owls saw out the first half in the ascendancy.
Fulham resumed, as expected, with more vigour and a perfectly timed challenge from Sam Hutchinson blocked a Sone Aluko shot on the edge of the area.
The game became stretched with the Londoners desperate for a leveller while Wednesday looked to put the points to bed.
Fulham made a double substitution with 15 minutes to go and the change almost paid immediate dividends as the next attack created a clear chance for Aluko but Jack Hunt made a superb tackle to deny the frontman.
The hosts pressed forward with the clock counting down and certainly bossed possession before grabbing the leveller in added time.
Aluko crossed to the back post and the ball sat up nicely for Malone to drill past Keiren Westwood and deny Wednesday a travelling maximum.
Wednesday: Westwood, Hunt, Loovens, Lees, Reach, Hutchinson (Jones 56), Wallace, Lee, Bannan, Forestieri, Hooper (Fletcher 59)