A second half double from Youssef Chermiti ended Fulham under 21’s Premier League International Cup run as Everton came from behind to beat the young Whites 3-1 at Walton Hall Park tonight.
Callum Osmand’s terrifically taken 24th goal of a superb season put Hayden Mullins’ men ahead on Merseyside midway through the first half but the hosts were level within a minute of the restart when England international Michael Keane rose highest to head home a corner from Jackson Metcalfe. Chermiti, a £13m signing from Sporting Lisbon last August, gave the Toffees the lead from the penalty spot after Devan Tanton had tripped Charlie Whitaker and then put the tie beyond Fulham when his shot proved too powerful for Alex Borto to keep out seven minutes later. An experienced Everton start, which also featured Nathan Patterson at right back, eventually proved too strong for the Whites.
The et with an excellent first time finish from the edge of the box after being set up by Devan Tanton.
Alex Borto then made a decent save from Harrison Armstrong to preserve his side’s lead, but there was little he could do to deny Keane early in the second half, with the 12-cap England international rising highest to head home a corner from Jenson Metcalfe.
The visitors settled well with Matt Dibley-Dias and Josh King particularly prominent in midfield in the early stages and took the lead through Welsh striker’s Osmand’s superb strike. Colombian international Tanton floated over a cross from the right and Osmand chested it down brilliantly before turning and volleying past a helpless Fraser Barnsley in an instant. Fulham were relatively comfortable in the remainder of the half with Borto easily fielding a long-range strike from Harrison Armstrong and might have made it 2-0 through Lemar Gordon if it wasn’t for a diligent bit of defending from Reece Walsh, who blocked the winger’s shot. Gordon then turned provider to play in Adrion Pajaziti, but the Albanian under-21 international blazed badly over the bar.
Paul Tait’s side made the perfect start to the second half when Keane headed emphatically home from Whitaker’s corner after soaring above Araujo in the air. Osmand had a glorious chance to restore Fulham’s lead at the other end within a minute but he shot into the side netting and, as the game opened up, Mackenzie Hunt tested Borto’s reflexes with a daisycutter after linking up with Whitaker and Francis Okoronkwo.
Chermiti was coolness personified from the spot with just over twenty minutes to play, tucking away the penalty conceded after Tanton had brought down Whittaker. The Portuguese under-20 international made it 3-1 seven minutes later, with Borto unable to keep out his unerring finish. Whittaker and Chermiti were both sent off as a dramatic evening came to a close – with the pair shown second yellow cards for timewasting – and Fulham failed to make their numerical advantage count in stoppage time. Osmand sent a header wide and Barnsley blocked a Dibley-Dias effort.
EVERTON UNDER 21s (4-3-3): Barnsley; Patterson. Hunt, Keane, Welch; Warrington (Djankpata 81), Metcalfe (Butterfield 81), Armstrong (Onyango 66); Whitaker, Okoronkwo (Kouyate 62), Chermiti. Subs (not used): Pickford, Heath, Jones.
BOOKED: Patterson, Whitaker, Welch, Onyango, Chermiti.
SENT OFF: Whitaker, Chermiti.
GOALS: Keane (46), Chermiti (70, 77).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-3-3): Borto; Tanton, Okkas, Araujo, de Fougerolles; King (Olyott 75), Dibley-Dias, Pajaziti (McCoy-Splatt 62); Gordon (S?ekularac 62), Works, Osmand. Subs (not used): McNally, Avenall, Slade.
BOOKED: Araujo.
GOAL: Osmand (22).
REFEREE: Aaron Jackson
