Fulham Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup campaign came to a premature end after suffering a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Despite being 2-0 up at half-time, with goals from Imani Lanquedoc and Mika Biereth, two injury time goals turned the game on its head.
It took the two sides a bit of time to figure each other out in the foggy conditions, with no real opportunities in the opening 10 minutes.
Biereth had the first attempt after an error in the Ipswich defence. Adrion Pajaziti closed down a defender before feeding Biereth, whose powerful effort flew wide.
On the 15-minute mark, Fulham were given an opportunity from a dead ball, with Ollie O’Neill brought down while charging forward from midfield. Pajaziti’s curling free-kick whizzed wide of the far post.
Imani Lanquedoc gave the young Whites the lead 17 minutes in and from range. He collected the ball on the edge of the penalty box before smashing his powerful effort past the goalkeeper, who was beaten by the pure power of the shot.
Our lead was doubled in the 26th minute after a wonderful flowing move, with O’Neill at the centre of it. After sprinting beyond two defenders down the left, his pacey low cross was slammed in by Biereth.
The young blues created arguably their best opportunity immediately after the break. Ben Wyss swung in a cross which was volleyed just over by Zanda Siziba. A reminder that the game was far from over.
Ipswich continued to control proceedings and scored one back just a few minutes after half-time. Siziba rose highest from a free-kick delivery to nod the ball past goalkeeper Alex Borto.
O’Neill found himself involved again for Fulham five minutes later. After flicking the ball over the head of a defender, he sprinted towards a bouncing ball before being wiped out by ‘keeper Lewis Ridd. The resulting free-kick, taken by Pajaziti, was blocked and deflected over.
Ibane Bowat came painfully close to regaining the two-goal lead for his side in the 60th minute. The commanding centre-back connected with Pajaziti’s cross from a corner, but his headed effort bounced off the top of the crossbar.
Ipswich found what they were looking for in the 90th minute, when Liam Gibbs slotted in from the penalty spot after a foul inside the box.
Unbelievably, the home side found a winner in the 94th minute to progress to the next round, with Harley Curtis poking the ball in from close range.
The final whistle blew and Fulham’s FA Youth Cup journey came to an early end.
Next Up:
Steve Wigley’s side will turn their attention back to the league, with a home tie against Chelsea coming up on Saturday 12th December.
Team Lineup:
Borto; D’Auria-Henry, Parkes, Bowat, Araujo; O’Neill, Dibley-Dias, Pajaziti, Lanquedoc; Biereth, Sanderson
Subs:
Chisholm; Odutayo, Benjamin, Antonsson, Olakigbe, Wildbore