Fulham Under-18s secured their place in the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup on Friday with a dramatic 2-1 win over Cardiff City.
Josh King got us back level in the second half after going behind, before Callum Osmand struck in stoppage time to give us a late victory.
Ali Melloul was able to name strong side in the south of Wales, with a number of lads playing regular Under-21s football involved.
Jonathan Esenga paired up with Samuel Amissah in the centre of defence, and Josh King slotted into midfield alongside Chibby Nwoko. Aaron Loupalo-Bi, Lemar Gordon, Tom Olyott and Callum Osmand all came together to help form a deadly attack. Under-16s midfielder Alfie White made it onto the bench, having picked up his Under-18s debut last weekend against Tottenham Hotspur.
The young Whites won themselves an early free-kick in a good position after Josh King was tugged to the ground to the right side of the area. Jonathan Esenga’s whipped free-kick was cleared off the line after taking a deflection.
Our pressing helped present us with another chance just moments later. Loupalo-Bi won the ball in a dangerous position before feeding into the path of Osmand, but his effort was blasted over.
Loupalo-Bi forced goalkeeper Luke Armstrong into a decent save on 10 minutes, twisting and turning to buy himself some time and space before taking aim from the left-hand side.
Cardiff created their first opportunity on the 18-minute mark after King was tracked down and tackled in a dangerous position. Tanatswa Nyakuhwa rolled the ball onto his left before having his effort well tipped over by Dino Kaiser.
Gordon was finding some decent success down the left-hand side as the half progressed, but the hosts were holding firm and making it difficult for our boys to create.
Despite our relative control, we found ourselves behind with just over five minutes of the first half remaining. Forward Trey George made a darting near post run before converting at the near post.
The young Whites’ determination saw them win a penalty just before half-time following a trip on King in the area. Olyott has been clinical from the spot this season, but on this occasion his decent spot kick was well saved.
We went in at half-time one goal down in Wales.
The first half-chance after the interval fell the way of The Bluebirds. Nyakuhwa charged through midfield before having a go from range and firing just over.
Then, up the other end we threatened soon after. Olyott’s stinging right-footed effort from a tight angle was blocked before fizzing into the side netting.
Our players were convinced they’d scored from the resulting corner. Bradley De Jesus did well to meet Esenga’s corner and direct his back post header towards goal, but somehow the ‘keeper blocked the ball on the line.
We had the hosts pinned back and got what we were looking for on 66 minutes. De Jesus fed the ball to King who quickly controlled it, dragged it away from the goalkeeper and poked it cleverly back across goal and in.
The home side came close to retaking the lead with just under 15 minutes remaining. Substitute Japhet Matondo reached the by-line before pulling back to Cody Twose, whose effort from close range was blocked by Kaiser.
Osmand came even closer 10 minutes later, charging down the left before cutting in and forcing yet another excellent Armstrong save.
Just as it looked like we were heading into extra-time, up stepped Osmand to latch onto a decent pass before coolly rolling under the body of Armstrong. A wonderful moment for Ali Melloul's side!
The lads will return to Wales in the next round to face Swansea City.
