Fulham Under-21s’ four-match winning league run came to an end in Friday night’s West London derby at Motspur Park, as Chelsea ran out 6-0 winners.
Both SW6 sides looked threatening in the first-half with the Young Whites creating a number of chances, but a six-goal onslaught from their neighbours after the break sealed victory.
There was a flurry of early action, with Donnell McNeilly firing an early warning shot that was too high to trouble Alex Borto in the home goal.
At the other end, Brad De Jesus saw a header go over the bar from a Josh King corner, and when King pulled the ball back to Callum Osmand moments later, the striker’s shot had to be blocked by a blue shirt.
The away side were next to attack, and Shumaira Mheuka’s glancing header in the middle wasn’t too far past the post. Tyrique George twice tried his luck from the edge of the box after cutting inside, but Borto did well to get behind the shot on both occasions.
Kristian Šekularac and Osmand were given two big chances to break the deadlock as the Chelsea defence was stretched, but goalkeeper Max Merrick batted away Šekularac’s strike, and Osmand’s drive went wide.
There was a let-off for the Young Whites when Ishe Samuels-Smith’s effort was saved and Harvey Vale miscued on the rebound.
And there was a final chance on the stroke of half-time as Godo slid in King, but some fantastic footwork from our number eight wasn’t matched by the finish, which went over the bar.
On the other side of the break, Chelsea forced a chance when Alex Matos’ shot was palmed away, and some fine De Jesus defensive work saw him clear away George’s follow-up on the line.
But there were no similar heroics when Chelsea found a breakthrough shortly; McNeilly finding space in the box and finishing well past Borto for the lead.
And they doubled their advantage when George beat his man and curled an effort into the far corner from the edge of the box.
Jon Esenga did almost reduce the deficit with a well-struck free-kick that had to be tipped over the bar, but Chelsea scored again when Borto’s save from McNeilly fell to Richard Olise to tap home a third.
A fourth followed on 70 minutes as the Fulham defence was breached again, with Mheuka taking advantage and leaving Borto helpless with the finish.
The home side rallied and had a sight of goal when Bradley Slade set up Chris Donnell, but a blue shirt slid in to block the captain’s shot.
But Fulham’s misery was compounded with two late goals, as Deivid Washington and Jimmy Morgan found the back of the net to make the score six.
Hayden Mullins’ team will now have the international break to regroup, before turning their attention to the PL International Cup when they take on FC Nordsjælland.
