Pre-Season Friendly: Fulham 1 Real Betis 1

Goals from Steve Sidwell and Nosa Igiebor ensured Fulham and Real Betis played out a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage on Monday.

With new Fulham chairman Shahid Khan watching on from the stands, Sidwell gave the hosts a 13th-minute lead with a neat header from a Bryan Ruiz corner.

Igiebor netted a deserved equaliser for the La Liga side eight minutes into the second half as Betis picked up another promising result on English soil following pre-season friendly wins over Huddersfield Town, Bolton Wanderers and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Next up for Betis is a trip to face Hull City at the KC Stadium this weekend and Pepe Mel’s men will hope to start better in that game than they did against Fulham.

Sidwell put Fulham in to an early lead after he was afforded too much time and space in the penalty area, as he steered a glancing header home from six yards.

First-half chances were at a premium despite it being a lively encounter, as Hugo Rodallega saw his deflected shot fly wide.

Joan Verdu crashed a free-kick wide after the restart as Betis attacked and the visitors were rewarded for a bright opening to the second period as Igiebor showed great composure to fire into the roof of the net from close range following a neat exchange with Juanfran.

Rodallega had a volleyed effort disallowed for offside, Ruiz had a penalty appeal turned down and Betis goalkeeper Stephan Andersen tipped a long-range Giorgos Karagounis shot wide as Fulham finished strongly, but failed to find a winner.