Fulham Under-21s came out on top in an eventful National League Cup tie, beating Woking 3-2 at the Laithwaie Community Stadium.
The first-half certainly wasn’t short on drama, with both sides seeing penalties saved. It was 1-1 at the break after Matt Ward cancelled out Aaron Loupalo-Bi’s brilliant opener.
Dion Kelly-Evans gave Woking the lead for the first time on the hour mark, but their advantage was cancelled out just minutes later as Callum Osmand applied the finishing touch on an eye-catching team move. The striker then won the game late on with an incredible solo goal as our youngsters made it five wins in a row.
Despite a bright start from the lads with Loupalo-Bi seeing a shot deflected into the arms of Will Jaaskelainen and Terrell Works going on a mazy run into the box, Woking were presented with a golden chance to take the lead as Eddy Nsasi fouled Ward in the box.
Jack Stretton stepped up to take the penalty but Alex Borto guessed right, diving to his right to save the spot kick.
Straight up the other end, Loupalo-Bi gave us the lead, cutting inside onto his left foot and finding the bottom corner with a driven left-footed from just inside the box.
Borto was kept busy for much of the evening as he palmed away Stretton’s rasping strike from a tight angle.
Midway through the first-half, it was Kelly-Evans’ turn to test our American shot-stopper, but he gratefully pounced on the Woking man’s weak shot.
Chris Donnell was tripped the box by Cian Harries a couple of minutes later, with referee Ross Martin giving another penalty. But it was the goalkeeper who won the battle from 12 yards as Jaaskelainen saved Callum Osmand’s penalty.
The hosts then had a couple of shots from distance. Firstly, Alan Judge’s driven shot whistled past Borto’s post, but there was nothing our goalkeeper could do about Ward’s equaliser; a 25-yard screamer that flew into the top corner.
Michael Doyle’s side were on top by this point as Stretton fired another effort past the post, before an onrushing Dennon Lewis skied a shot after meeting a cross from the right.
Immediately after the restart, Borto was down low to keep out Lewis’ side-footed strike, but he was helpless on the hour mark when Kelly-Evans headed home from range to give Woking the lead.
The Fulham equaliser was a simply beautiful team goal. Lemar Gordon slotted in Donnell, who had the opportunity to shoot in the box, but instead squared it to Osmand to finish into an empty net.
Our youngsters were looking a real threat on the counter as Osmand led another charge, with Loupalo-Bi slicing a shot wide as the ball fell to him on the edge of the area.
Osmand won the game in scintillating fashion in the 88th minute. The striker was all alone with several Woking bodies in front of him as he burst into the opponent’s half, but he continued to drive forwards and arrowed a shot past Jaaskelainan into the bottom corner.
Hayden Mullins' side are next in action on Tuesday 10th December with a Premier League International Cup tie against Hertha Berlin, 7pm kick-off at Motspur Park.
