Rodrigo Muniz finally broke a barren spell that had lasted a full year, helping Alvaro Arbeloa secure his first victory in charge of Fulham as the London club cruised to a comfortable 3-0 triumph over AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup. The Brazilian striker, who had not found the back of the net since August 16, 2025, headed home a precise cross from Kenny Tete after Emile Smith Rowe had already given the Cottagers an early advantage by nodding the ball into the net.
Muniz's goal not only ended his personal drought but also put Fulham in a commanding position before the interval, effectively sealing a third‑round passage to a future clash with West Ham United. After the final whistle, Arbeloa praised his attacking options, saying, "Goals are the lifeblood of any striker, and Rodrigo has been working tirelessly to get back on the scoresheet.
We have a great partnership up front with him and Gonzalo Garcia – they are different types of forwards, but both are essential for our plans. Both of them scored tonight and the dressing‑room was buzzing with happiness." The manager’s remarks highlighted the importance of having multiple goal‑scoring threats, especially as Fulham look to rebuild under his guidance. The match began with Wimbledon showing surprising resilience for the first thirty minutes at Craven Cottage, the first ever encounter between the two London clubs.
However, once Fulham took the lead, the visitors never managed to recover. The home side continued to generate chances after the break, with debutant Macaulay Zepa energising the right flank. Though Zepa did not add his name to the scoresheet, he made a notable contribution by providing an assist in stoppage time. His cross freed Gonzalo Garcia, the high‑profile summer signing, who sprinted past Dan Sweeney, out‑maneuvered goalkeeper Nathan Bishop, and calmly slotted home his second goal in as many games, sealing the win.
The Carabao Cup fixture also featured a series of notable moments captured in the broadcast commentary. At the 22‑minute mark, Wimbledon’s Callum Maycock whipped in a cross that glanced just past the far post, hinting at a potential upset. Two minutes later, Smith Rowe struck a half‑volley from the edge of the box, only to see it clip the near post.
He redeemed himself in the 37th minute, heading in a pass from Ryan Sessegnon to put Fulham ahead. Four minutes later, Muniz doubled the lead with a superb header from Tete’s delivery.
The second half saw Zepa replace Oscar Bobb, marking his Fulham debut, while at 75 minutes Andy Yiadom escaped a controversial handball call after sliding to block a Tete attempt. In added time, Garcia completed the scoring, racing away from a defender and out‑witting Bishop for his third goal of the night. Zepa’s final effort was denied by Bishop’s well‑timed legs from a tight angle. Sky Sports analyst Ron Walker summed up the performance, noting that Arbeloa could not have asked for a better showing, especially after making ten changes to his starting XI.
"Fulham breezed through to the next round, showcasing several encouraging individual displays and, crucially, staying injury‑free," he said. Walker also reflected on Muniz’s future, suggesting that while the striker may eventually move on from Craven Cottage, his return to scoring form provides a valuable backup to Garcia, who appears increasingly confident after his own strike. The analyst singled out Zepa as the most captivating figure for the fans, praising his directness, liveliness, and composure from his first touch to his final whistle, despite missing a goal on debut – a miss attributed to a lack of opportunity rather than effort. Beyond the on‑field action, the match was accompanied by promotional content encouraging viewers to stream the Carabao Cup without a contract and to use Chrome for an optimal video experience.
The broadcast also featured a reminder about a Super 6 competition offering a chance to win £1 million, with free entry available to participants. In summary, Fulham’s 3‑0 victory over Wimbledon not only marked a significant milestone for Rodrigo Muniz, who finally broke his year‑long goal drought, but also highlighted the depth and potential of Arbeloa’s squad.
The contributions from emerging talent Macaulay Zepa and the confidence shown by Gonzalo Garcia suggest a promising future for the club as they advance further in the cup competition. The win also provides a morale boost for the supporters, who witnessed a blend of experienced finishing and youthful exuberance, setting a positive tone for the challenges ahead in the Premier League and domestic cups.