Fulham Under-23s' dip in form continued on Friday afternoon, with a 4-1 loss against Burnley at LSE.
A brilliant free-kick from Sylvester Jasper proved to be merely a consolation for the young side.
Neither side were able to create any clear-cut opportunities in the opening 10 minutes. Fulham had a couple of free-kicks in dangerous positions but the first was cleared at the near post and the second was comfortably collected by goalkeeper Marc Richter.
Fabio Carvalho’s first involvement came on the 17-minute mark, with the attacker covering ground down the right and cutting inwards at the byline. His attempted cross was blocked at the near post.
Jay Stansfield found himself in a great position on 25 minutes, but his half volley effort from close range blazed over. The biggest chance of the game up to that point.
Ollie O’Neill came close a couple of minutes later, as Fulham began to turn the screw. Ziyad Larkeche made a bursting run down the left and found the Irishman with a low cross, but his shot floated over the crossbar.
Taye Ashby-Hammond was called into action 10 minutes before the break, diving to his right to keep out a stinging shot from Lewis Richardson. The ball looked to be heading straight for the far corner.
Richardson had another opportunity on the stroke of half-time. After a minor scramble on the edge of the box, the ball fell kindly for him but his attempt on the slide was excellently blocked by Ibane Bowat. Some impressive last-ditch defending from the centre-back.
The visitors had a penalty shout early in the second half, after Richardson went down in the area. The referee was quick to wave the decision off despite the cries from Burnley’s players and staff.
The young Clarets soon opened the scoring on 52 minutes. Richardson played a square pass to Rob Harker, who smashed the ball past Ashby-Hammond.
The situation worsened five minutes later. Ashby-Hammond was unable to keep hold of a delivery from a corner and the ball fell to Richard Nartey, who poked home.
Two quickly became three, with Max Thompson firing in from the spot after the referee deemed there to be a handball in the area.
Jasper grabbed one back for his side on 73 minutes and in terrific style. The substitute curled an effort into the top left-hand corner from a free-kick, leaving the ‘keeper with absolutely no chance. Mark Pembridge and Colin Omogbehin’s team had just over 15 minutes to find a way back into the game.
Joel Mumbongo put the tie to bed seven minutes later, tapping in coolly from a Richardson cross to seal the points for Burnley.
Team Lineup:
Ashby Hammond, D’Auria-Henry, McAvoy, Bowat, Larkeche; Pajaziti (Jasper 59'), Francois, O’Neill; Carvalho, Stansfield, Biereth (Tiehi 59')
Subs:
Borto, Murphy, Hilton, Jasper, Tiehi
