A brace from Jean-Pierre Tiehi helped Fulham’s under 21s battle back from twice going behind to beat AFC Bournemouth this afternoon.
Terry Ablade marked his first start following an injury set back with the other goal for Steve Wigley’s side as the young Whites showed great spirit to register an encouraging victory. The Finnish youth international almost gave the visitors a perfect start but he was denied by a superb saving tackle after a perceptive pass from Adrion Pajaziti. Alex Borto saved well from Jaydon Saydee but was left helpless from twelve yards shortly when Nathan Moriah-Welsh calmly converted a penalty after being brought down by a clumsy tackle.
Pajaziti was denied by a brilliant save after the Kosovan midfielder had been played in by Matt Dibley-Dias but Fulham didn’t have to wait too much longer for an equaliser with Ablade punishing some slack defending with an emphatic finish. But the Londoners weren’t able to preserve parity until half time with a sensational long-range strike from Kinsley Wellings restoring the Cherries’ lead.
Dibley-Dias fully extended Will Dennis with a rising drive after the interval but Tiehi swiftly levelled with an assured finish after substitute Kristian Šekularac had played him in. Tiehi’s best finish of the afternoon was reserved for last – an athletic volley from a fine searching cross from Luciano D’Auria-Henry.
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto; Tanton, Williams, Bowat, Parkes; Okkas, Pajaziti; McFarlane, O’Neill, Dibley-Dias; Ablade. Subs: Conway, D’Auria-Henry, Šekularac, Tiehi, Godo, Sanderson.
