Fulham Under-21s shared the spoils with Middlesbrough in an action-packed Motspur Park encounter.
An early strike from Pharrell Willis for Boro was cancelled out by Terrell Works, and after away side regained the advantage before the break, Callum Osmand bagged a second equaliser to earn a point.
Willis opened the scoring in spectacular fashion inside ten minutes, cutting in from the right to unleash an effort into the top bracket that left goalkeeper Alfie McNally helpless.
The away side had a chance for a second moments later when AJ Bridge’s cross was met by Ajay Matthews in the box, but his header was sent harmlessly wide.
Fulham found an equaliser after quarter of an hour with a slick move between the front three. Adrion Pajaziti slid the ball across to Osmand, who in turn fed Works to finish low past ‘keeper Shea Connor.
Pajaziti was then given a shooting opportunity with a free-kick in a dangerous area, but the Boro wall did its job to deflect the strike over.
McNally came to his side’s rescue when Matthew Hoppe raced through on goal and tried to take it around him, but the ‘keeper managed to claw away the ball.
However, there was little he could do when George Gitau worked the ball onto his left foot in the box and found the bottom corner via a deflection to restore the lead for the visitors.
The Young Whites responded as Delano McCoy-Splatt clipped a ball to onrushing full-back George Okkas, but the Cypriot’s half-volley whistled just wide of the post.
But it took an incredible piece of defending from Josh King to prevent further damage being done, as the forward made a heroic goalline clearance to block Luke Woolston’s shot from six yards out.
Hayden Mullins’ team came out fighting in the second half, as Osmand curled an effort into the side netting and Harvey Araujo rose highest at a corner to head against the post moments later.
The pressure paid off when McCoy-Splatt slid in to win the ball on the right, and whipped in a delicious cross the was gratefully received by Osmand to head in and level the game for a second time.
The two forwards almost linked up for a third, but this time Connor made the save as Osmand tried to direct another McCoy-Splatt delivery towards goal.
Neither side could fashion a late a winner and settled for a point apiece.
Fulham U21: McNally, Tanton, De Fougerolles, Araujo, Okkas, McCoy-Splatt, Dibley-Dias, Works, King, Pajaziti (Amissah 79'), Osmand (Loupalo-Bi 78')
Subs: Borto, Avenall, Amissah, Olyott, Loupalo-Bi
Middlesbrough U21: Connor, Lindo, Hannah, McCormick, Gitau, Bridge, Whelan (Howells 79'), Woolston, Willis (Lennon 70'), Matthews, Hoppe (Nkrumah 79')
Subs: Nkrumah, Lennon, Howells, Metcalfe
