Fulham U21 6-3 Arsenal U21

Fulham Under-21s returned to winning ways with a thrilling 6-3 victory over Arsenal at Motspur Park on Saturday lunchtime.

There were five goals in the first-half as our Young Whites responded well to Ismail Oulad M’Hand’s opener for Arsenal, as two goals from Aaron Loupalo-Bi and a stunning Kristian Šekularac strike saw us go 3-1 ahead on 30 minutes.

Salah Oulad M'Hand got Arsenal back into the game before the break, but Šekularac replied after the interval with his second goal. Despite Khayon Edwards forcing the ball home with 15 minutes to play, another from Loupalo-Bi and a Michał Rosiak own goal completed an enthralling contest

The first chance of the match fell to Fulham as Terrell Works pounced on a defensive error and teed up Šekularac for a shot on goal, but the midfielder’s bending effort was tipped wide by Lucas Nygaard.

There was a scrappy nature to Arsenal’s opener, which arrived on 11 minutes, as Ismail Oulad M’Hand poked the ball beyond Alex Borto inside the box.

Borto then recovered well after initially making a mess of a clearance, with the ball landing at the feet of Salah Oulad M’Hand, but the American shot-stopper leapt across his goal to make an impressive save.

Mishaps at the back were becoming a theme of this lunchtime kick-off as Loupalo-Bi found our equaliser, picking the pocket of an Arsenal defender and firing a low finish past Nygaard.

It was a moment of brilliance from Šekularac that put Hayden Mullins’ side ahead. The Switzerland youth international showed quick feet to beat several Arsenal defenders before calmly sliding the ball underneath Nygaard.

Our third goal arrived on the half hour mark as Ollie Gofford forced Nygaard into a low save, but it was a poacher’s finish from Loupalo-Bi who bundled the ball home from a few yards out.

The two-goal advantage was halved within five minutes as Salah Oulad M’Hand swept a strike into the far bottom corner from 18 yards, leaving Borto with no chance.

After the break, Edwards missed a golden chance to bring the visitors level as he latched onto a through ball, but his shot dropped just wide as he looked to loft the ball over Borto.

Šekularac added his second goal shortly after, drilling the ball into the bottom corner, with the strike kissing the post on its way in.

Chances continued to fall at both ends as Works tested Nygaard with a shot that threatened to nestle in top corner, while Borto had to remain alert to deny Ismail Oulad M’Hand inside the box.

Edwards scored at the back post from a set-piece to set up a tense finale at Motspur Park, but our Young Whites continued to push for more. Loupalo-Bi completed his hat-trick with three minutes to play, demonstrating great composure to take ball around Nygaard before finishing into an empty net.

There was still time for one more as a low Lemar Gordon cross bounced off Arsenal defender Rosiak and into the net.

Our U21s are next in action with a short trip to Aldershot Town in the National League Cup on Tuesday evening, 7pm kick-off.