By Jack Pooley

Fulham Under-21s narrowly missed out on the Premier League International Cup final at the hands of PSV on a fresh Thursday night.

Ismael Saibari scored and assisted as his side went 2-0 up in the second half, before Terry Ablade got one back late on.

Charlie Robinson and Devan Tanton made their returns to the starting line-up following a trip away to Dallas with the Under-19s, whilst the rest of the XI mirrored a successful Good Friday victory over Arsenal last time out.

The Dutch outfit made a strong start and had an early opportunity to go ahead, when Mohammed Nassoh fed Saibari down the left, whose shot stung the hands of a strong George Wickens from close range.

The Young Whites grew into proceedings and had a sniff of goal themselves next, when Ablade showed his sharpness to intercept from the PSV ‘keeper, but couldn’t quite do anything with it in the end.

Another solid Wickens save came after 20 minutes as Saibari showed his threat again, racing through before seeing his effort parried by the Fulham shot stopper.

Sonny Hilton swings in a cross

Moments later and Luke Harris went close himself at the other end. A beautiful searching cross from Tanton found the head of our leaping Welshman, whose diverted header on target had to be tipped over by Niek Schiks between the PSV sticks.

Fulham’s two wingers combined next for the latest sight on goal, as Sonny Hilton’s surging run up field allowed Martial Godo a chance. Cutting inside onto his right foot, our trickster went close but couldn’t quite steer his effort on target.

Five minutes before the interval came our greatest chance of the contest so far. Terry Ablade showed his burst of pace down the right and knocked in a near-perfect ball to Harris, whose poke at goal had to be parried.

Just before the break the lively Saibari had his biggest sighter of goal so far, rounding Wickens before seeing his attempt blocked on the line by Jay Williams.

Martial Godo bends a shot towards goal

Godo had a golden chance to add to his three goals in the competition so far just after the restart. Pinching the ball back high, he cut inside his man before unleashing a shot which Schiks had to get a firm hand to.

Moments later and PSV went in front. From a deep free kick floated in, Saibari was alert to glance in a header to the far corner to give his side the advantage.

Godo was at it again with 64 minutes gone. Following great work from Harris, Hilton and Ablade, the ball found its’ way to the Fulham number 11, whose curling effort was right down the throat of the PSV ‘keeper in the end.

With a little over 10 minutes left on the clock, the Dutch outfit doubled their advantage. Saibari was involved yet again to feed in Jason Van Duiven who did the rest, finishing off the post to give his side a cushion.

Fulham weren’t about to lie down though, and got themselves a lifeline a few minutes later, when Terry Ablade converted from a smart Hilton corner.

Ablade went close to completing a late comeback with one of the last kicks of the game after Olly Sanderson had delivered a beauty, but in the end we couldn't quite recover and the team from the Netherlands progressed to the Premier League International Cup final.

Fulham U21: Wickens, Tanton (Sanderson 75'), Charlie Robinson, Williams, Araujo, Okkas (de Fougerolles 62'), Dibley-Dias, Hilton, Harris, Godo, Ablade

Subs: Allen, McFarlane, Sanderson, de Fougerolles, Works, McCoy-Splatt

PSV Eindhoven U21: Schiks, Comenencia, Leysen, Jiménez, Seelt, Tielemans, Sávio (Fofana 61'), Colyn (Babadi 69'), Nassoh, Saibari, van Duiven

Subs: Tytens, Steur, Priske, van den Heuvel, Fofana, Babadi, Arts