Fulham Under-23s suffered an agonising 5-3 defeat against Sunderland on Monday afternoon in a thrilling encounter at the Academy of Light.
Despite the young Whites going 3-1 up, through goals by Tyrese Francois and Ryan De Havilland, the hosts turned the game on its head through Josh Hawkes, Benji Kimpioka and Patrick Almond.
The Black Cats came close to opening the scoring just two minutes in. Stephen Wearne received the ball inside the box but under immense pressure, his effort was straight at goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond.
The hosts started the stronger and came close again on seven minutes, when Elliot Embleton’s long range strike deflected just wide of the post. Embleton was involved again 16 minutes in, as Sunderland took the lead. He slid a perfect ball through to Josh Hawkes who fired the ball under Ashby-Hammond and into the back of the net.
That lead evaporated just two minutes later, with the young Whites responding instantly through Francois, who bagged his first PL2 goal of the season.
But Fulham weren’t finished there. On the 24-minute mark, De Havilland recieved a lay-off from Terry Ablade before curling the ball into the top corner.
The game began to open up and Sunderland’s Benji Kimpioka tried to level the scoring in style, with a spectacular overhead kick, but his effort lacked connection and the ball was subsequently cleared.
De Havilland was back on the scoresheet to make it three in the 32nd minute. Francois dribbled down the left-hand side before cutting the ball back to the midfielder who, on the edge of the box, slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
The game showed no signs of calming down, with the home side pulling one back on the stroke of half-time to keep the game alive. Kimpioka intercepted a weak back-pass before sliding the ball under Ashby-Hammond.
The second half got off to a much quieter start, with neither side creating any clear-cut opportunities in the opening minutes.
It took until the 60th minute for the first chance, which fell to Jean-Pierre Tiehi. After receiving the ball, his powerful close-range strike was well blocked by Sunderland ‘keeper Anthony Patterson. We were made to rue the missed chance, with the hosts finding an equaliser in the 65th minute. Almond fired the ball in from close-range after the ball bounced to him.
In the 74th minute, Hawkes swung in a corner towards Dan Neil whose headed effort flew just over. A let off for Colin Omogbehin and Mark Pembridge’s boys. Sunderland were not to be denied though and in the 79th minute, Hawkes converted from the penalty spot to score his second of the match.
The game was put out of reach just three minutes later when Kimpioka converted to give the hosts a two-goal lead.
Key Talking Points
- Jonathon Page made his first appearance since last season after being sidelined with a long-term injury
- Ryan De Havilland and Tyrese Francois both featured despite training with the First Team
Team Lineup:
L Ashby-Hammond (GK), J Page, J Aina, C McAvoy ©, Z Larkeche, L Murphy, T Francois, J Harris, R De Havilland, JP Tiehi, T Ablade,
Subs:
A Borto (GK), E Ameyaw, A Pajaziti, O O’Neill