Two second half strikes saw Fulham Under-23s fall to a 2-0 defeat against Wolves on Friday afternoon.
The visitors took control of the game in the early stages, winning a handful of corners in the opening five minutes.
Wolves’ Nigel Lonwijk thought he’d opened the scoring, but his powerful headed effort was blocked by his own teammate, Austin Samuels. Luca Ashby-Hammond was beaten, so it was definitely a let-off for Fulham.
Theo Corbeanu forced Ashby-Hammond into a save minutes later, cutting in from the right and drilling a low effort goal-bound. Our ‘keeper, still buzzing after signing a new deal at the club, collected comfortably.
Fulham created their first opportunity on the 13-minute mark. Sylvester Jasper’s deflected shot fell kindly for Jean-Pierre Tiehi but, while under pressure from two defenders, his left-footed shot slid wide.
Ashby-Hammond made an even better save soon after, diving to his right to keep out a Samuels strike from the edge of the box.
Tiehi thought he’d scored his ninth league goal of the season before the break after tapping in from a Lesley Duru cross. To his surprise, the flag was swiftly lifted for offside.
The visitors made a strong start, but Fulham slowly grew into the first-half. The two sides went in goalless.
Just seconds into the second period, Wolves’ Corbeanu watched as his volley trickled wide of the far post. The winger did well to latch onto the curling cross.
Jasper threatened the goal at the other end on 55 minutes. After making his way down the left-hand side, he cut in and watched as his curling right-footed shot rolled inches wide of the far post.
The deadlock was broken by the away side on the hour mark. Lewis Richards’ ball across the face of goal was smashed in by Samuels.
Owen Hesketh nearly doubled Wolves’ lead 10 minutes later, leaping highest and heading just over from a pacey cross.
The game was put to bed in the 90th minute, with Chem Campbell firing a long-range effort into the far corner.
Fulham struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities in the second-half.
Team Lineup:
L Ashby-Hammond, Fossey (Murphy 45’), Mundle-Smith, McAvoy, Duru; Francois (De Havilland 66’), Harris, Pajaziti; Davis, Tiehi, Jasper
Subs:
Trialist, Murphy, Larkeche, J. Aina, De Havilland
