Fulham Under-18s came out on the right side of a five-goal thriller against Brighton & Hove Albion at Motspur Park on Saturday.
There were 11 changes to the side that featured against Arsenal a week earlier, when we were forced to field an Under-15/16 side owing to the Academy’s presence in Dallas.
The Seagulls took the lead midway through the first half as their wingers combined – Sahil Bashir finishing beyond Dino Kaiser after being picked out on the counter by Aidan West.
But two Fulham goals in three minutes turned things around. Chibby Nwoko levelled things when he intercepted a pass from the Albion goalkeeper Lorenz Ferdinand and slotted home, before Nwoko utilised another high press to win the ball and find Aaron Loupalo-Bi – captaining the side for the first time – who took one touch to control and another to finish coolly.
It wasn’t until the 76 minute mark that the Young Whites built on their lead, but it was a goal worth waiting for. Damon Park played the ball out of defence into the left channel for Loupalo-Bi, who released Nwoko in midfield.
He advanced forward, drawing in a number of blue and white shirts before feeding Tom Wingate to his right who took a touch before lashing across Ferdinand on his left foot into the bottom corner.
Brighton nabbed a consolation through Harry Howell’s long ranger in the 90th minute, but Fulham held out to return to winning ways.
Possession
53%Shots
7Shots On Target
3Corners
5Fouls
100
0
Cards
3
0
Fulham U18: Kaiser, Brad de Jesus, Park, Tabares, Nsasi, Quashie (White 90'), Nwoko, Ali Wahid (Wingate 75'), Ridgeon, Zepa (Olyott 62'), Loupalo-Bi
Subs: Varney, Olyott, Wingate, White, Schutter
Brighton and Hove Albion U18: Ferdinand, Tasker, Mthunzi (Penman 38'), Simmonds, Lewis (Mills 61'), West, Albarus, Gulzar (Owusu 61'), Bashir (Oriola 61'), Howell, Nti (Belmont 45')
Subs: Penman, Mills, Belmont, Owusu, Oriola
