Fulham’s under 18s delivered another blistering performance as they thrashed Birmingham City 5-0 at Motspur Park on Saturday afternoon.
Ali Melloul’s men were dominant from the off and their seventh successive league victory lifted them into fourth place in the Premier League south, level on points with Crystal Palace. The hosts opened the scoring just before the quarter of an hour when high intensity pressing from Olly Sanderson prompted a mistake from Blues goalkeeper Kobi Brooks, who could only clear straight to Lemar Gordon. The teenager winger finished emphatically – and soon doubled the lead.
Gordon, who has made a real impression out wide this term with the under 18s, followed some fine close control to find the bottom corner with a low shot after being played in by a brilliant ball from Terrell Works. Birmingham did put Fulham under some significant pressure at the start of the second period, with goalkeeper Michael Allen making a couple of excellent saves to preserve the hosts’ two-goal cushion.
Matt Dibley-Dias extended Fulham’s lead with a fabulous free-kick before turning provider for substitute Michael Olakigbe. His superb 74th minute cross was flawlessly finished at the far post – and there was still time for Sanderson to round off an awesome all-round display with the fifth goal in stoppage time, supplying a simple finish from close range after a strong raid down the wing from Luc de Fougerolles.
FULHAM UNDER 18s: Allen; de Fougerolles, Araujo (Amissah 80), Parkes, Works (Olakigbe 72), Okkas (M. Parker 77), McCoy-Splatt, Lanquedoc, Dibley-Dias, Gordon, Sanderson. Subs (not used): Borto, Caton.
GOALS: Gordon (14, 18), Dibley-Dias (71), Olakigbe (74), Sanderson (90+3).
BIRMINGHAM CITY: Brooks; Willis, Manton (Regan 90+1), Carsley, Ogor; Home (Oduka 72), Patterson, Dance, Khela; Rushton (Williams 65), Beresford. Subs (not used): Warmington, Mazwi.
BOOKED: Khela.
