Goals from Mika Biereth and Xavier Benjamin secured a 2-2 draw for Fulham’s under 18s in their latest pre-season friendly against Crystal Palace yesterday.
The Whites went ahead with just two minutes on the clock when Biereth burst onto a lofted through ball, sped away from the Eagles defence and finished clinically into the bottom corner. But they were pegged back almost immediately when striker Victor Akinwale bundled home Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s cross from close range.
In a lively opening, both sides had chances to go in front. Rak-Sakyi saw a venomous strike blocked by the visiting defence and Akinwale had a rising drive pushed aside. At the other, Biereth went agonising close to putting Fulham ahead again when he guided a finish fractionally wide of the far post after being released behind the Palace defence once more.
It was the young Eagles who grabbed the game’s next goal just after the half hour mark. A flowing move culminated with Rak-Sakyi producing a devilish cross that midfielder David Omilabu converted at the back post. Fulham pressed for an equaliser of their own throughout the second period but were denied until a wonderfully delivered free-kick from Matt Dibley-Dias found Benjamin at the back post and the defender’s thumping header levelled matters.
