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Mario Silva knew what he was talking about when he tipped Alex Iwobi for his best Premier League season yet and the Nigerian international is proving his coach right with sensational performances.
On Thursday night, Iwobi was the star of the show, scoring twice to inspire Fulham to a commanding 3-1 victory over Brighton at Craven Cottage.
Iwobi wasted no time in making his mark. Just four minutes into the match, Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen handed the ball straight to him, and Iwobi didn’t hesitate, slotting it into the far corner.
The early goal was Fulham’s quickest at home in the Premier League since their clash against Brentford in August 2022.
The match wasn’t without drama, though. Carlos Baleba leveled the score for Brighton in the 56th minute, setting up a nail-biting second half.
Fulham fought back, and in the 79th minute, a moment of fortune arrived when Matt O’Riley turned the ball into his own net, restoring the home side’s lead.
But Iwobi wasn’t done yet. As Brighton pushed forward in search of another equalizer, the Nigerian maestro found space on the edge of the box in the 87th minute.
With ice-cold precision, he fired a low shot into the bottom-right corner, putting the game to bed and completing his brace.
The stats don’t lie: According to Opta Jose, this was only Iwobi’s second brace in 267 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, Everton, and Fulham. But this season, he’s been a revelation, already amassing five goals and three assists for the Cottagers.
Mario Silva couldn’t hide his admiration after the game. “Alex has been outstanding from the first day of pre-season,” the Fulham boss told the BBC.
“He’s in a happy place and and he is a fantastic footballer. Last season was his best in the Premier League, and one or two months ago I said he would be even better in this one.”
Silva also praised Iwobi’s versatility and game-changing ability: “He is really versatile and I can use him in many different positions.
He’s a top player with the way he can assist and score goals more than ever. What a game for him and he deserved all the credit.”
With Iwobi in red-hot form, Fulham fans can dare to dream of greater heights this season. One thing’s for sure: if this is the “big show” Silva promised, Iwobi is the star everyone’s talking about.
