Chris Donnell scored a goal on his birthday as Fulham’s under 21s drew 1-1 with FC Nordsjælland at Motspur Park this evening and qualified for the knockout phase of the Premier League International Cup.
Hayden Mullins’ men progress to the next stage of the competition as undefeated group runners up after an entertaining draw with their Danish opponents on a cold evening at the Fulham training ground.
The young Whites began brightly, setting the tempo with some precise passing and positive forays forward. Their first chance fell to the in-form forward Aaron Loupalo-Bi but the striker’s shot looped off a defender and flew wide of goal.
FC Nordsjælland were dangerous on the ball themselves and Alex Borto made a smart save to deny Villum Dalsgaard an opening goal after inventive wing play from Markus Seim-Monsen. The dangerous Seim-Monsen went close himself shortly afterwards as the American goalkeeper had to get down to his right to keep out a venomous volley. The Danish side were building up quite the head of steam and it was little surprise when Ingi Jóhannesson stroked the visitors in front from twelve yards on 25 minutes following an enterprising move.
Fulham found the Danish defence a tough nut to crack as they held tightly to their advantage but Welsh youth international Callum Osmand was denied by goalkeeper Duran Ferree in the last action of the first half. Borto was forced off injured soon after the resumption, but Mullins’ decision to bring on winger Lemar Gordon for centre back Eddy Nsasi at the same time gave Fulham’s forward line more a cutting edge.
The tactical switch handed Fulham the initiative and the industrious Donnell levelled matters when he buried a firm header from Imani Lanquedoc’s cross. Donnell could have put Fulham in front ten minutes later when he found himself all alone after excellent approach play from Tom Olyott, but the midfielder failed to get a decisive touch on the number ten’s devilish delivery.
Substitute goalkeeper Marco Underwood made two big saves in the closing stages to preserve parity and a share of the spoils for Fulham. He first made himself big to thwart Villads Rutkjaer at his near post after the centre back had shrugged off his marker at a corner and then denied Malte Heyde a winner in stoppage time when he tipped over the midfielder’s fine volley.
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto (Underwood 49); de Jesus, Nwoko, Nsasi (Gordon 49), Park; Donnell (Khan 90+3), Lanquendoc (Picotto 88); Loupalo-Bi, Works, Olyott (Zepa 88); Osmand. Subs (not used): Wingate.
BOOKED: Works.
GOAL: Donnell (57).
FC NORDSJAELLAND UNDER 21s (4-3-3): Ferree; Gustafsen, Lähteenmäki, Klemmensen, Rutkjaer; Heyder, Nielsen, Johannesson; Dalsgaard (Krath 55), Seim-Monsen (Kretzschmar 85), Faber (Bertelsen 73). Subs (not used): Søndenbroe.
BOOKED: Faber, Heyde.
GOAL: Johannesson (25).
REFEREE: Harrison Blair.
