After dominating the first half without creating too many chances, Fulham effectively confirmed their victory 15 minutes into the second 45 as a Danny Murphy penalty was added to Andy Johnson’s 19th-minute opener despite Split posing much more of a threat after half-time.
Aside from an early chance for Damien Duff after a Murphy free-kick, the opening exchanges at Craven Cottage were quiet and conservative from both sides as the two teams looked to gain control in the midfield.
But, with the match barely 20 minutes old, Fulham took the lead on the night, and in the tie, as Andy Johnson found the net with his head at the near post as he managed to get on the end of Duff’s corner.
Just over 10 minutes later Fulham felt slightly hard done by as protests for a penalty were ignored after Duff tangled with defenders in the area, but the home side were finally beginning to dominate the match.
The second half almost started as badly as it possibly could for Fulham as Ante Vitaic went close from a free-kick just outside the box, but luckily enough for the Cottagers, it sailed just wide of Mark Schwarzer’s left-hand post with the Australian beaten.
However, in the 57th minute Split’s good start to the second period was put to waste thanks to one moment of stupidity from Velimir Vidic as the Bosnian recklessly hacked down Johnson in the box giving the referee no option but to award a penalty and Murphy buried it with minimal fuss.
Split almost gave their hosts the possibility of a very nervy last 30 minutes, but the crossbar came to Fulham’s rescue as Goran Milovic got on the end of a left-wing free-kick at the near post and his attempt crashed back off the woodwork.
The hosts managed to stay strong at the back for the final minutes and hold on to the two-goal lead that sees them reach the play-off round of the Europa League.