Fulham Under-23s suffered a 7-1 defeat against an experienced Leeds United side. The hosts included the likes of Pablo Hernandez, Helder Costa and Tyler Roberts in their line-up, all of which were instrumental in Leeds’ promotion from the Championship.
The hosts took an early lead, with Roberts leaping highest to nod the ball into the far corner from a cross.
Fulham showed some attacking threat on the 12-minute mark after an interception in midfield. Josh Onomah pounced on a poor touch from Roberts before finding Fabio Carvalho on the right. His low cross nearly reached Martell Taylor-Crossdale but was soon cleared.
The young Whites were under some immense pressure and needed to weather the storm. Costa slid an effort just wide from a Poveda cross and came even closer soon after, with George Wickens rushing off his line to block a close-range effort from the winger.
Leeds soon scored a second through captain Charlie Cresswell, who powered the ball in from a header to leave Mark Pembridge and Colin Omogbehin’s side with a mountain to climb.
The home team were given a stroke of good fortune in the 34th minute to go three up. Wickens, who was fantastic in the opening half, blocked a Poveda shot but the ball bounced off Connor McAvoy before bobbling into the net.
McAvoy responded excellently, though. Just a few minutes later he denied Roberts a second goal with a superb sliding block. Although the ball was a matter of yards out, the deflection launched the shot over the bar.
Hernandez came close soon after the break, when his dragged effort slid inches wide from a Poveda cross.
He soon made up for his miss, smashing a shot past Wickens at the near post to put the hosts four goals up on 56 minutes.
Four soon became five, with Bobby Kamwa getting his name on the scoresheet. Wickens did fantastically to deny Joe Gelhardt from the spot but the ball then rolled to Kamwa who smashed it into the far corner.
Carvalho managed to grab his side a goal back in the 71st minute, with a wonderful curling left-footed shot from range. The hosts quickly responded though through Gelhardt, who fired the ball into the bottom corner from far out.
Costa added a seventh with seconds remaining, slamming in a close-range effort from a low cross.
Team Lineup:
Wickens; Duru, Mundle-Smith, McAvoy, Aina; Hilton, Harris, Onomah; Jasper, Taylor-Crossdale, Carvalho
Subs:
Ashby-Hammond, Page, De Havilland, Biereth