A superb penalty save from Alex Borto ensured Fulham’s under 21s continued their unbeaten run as Tottenham Hotspur were denied a late winner at Hotspur Way this afternoon. Fulham’s American goalkeeper, making just his second start of the season, dived to his right to keep out Romaine Mundle’s 87th minute spot-kick after Matt Dibley-Dias had tripped Matthew Craig to ensure Steve Wigley’s side came away from a fiercely contested London derby with a share of the spoils.
The Whites made a dream start inside three minutes when Connor McAvoy headed in a fine corner from Ollie O’Neill. But Tottenham enjoyed the better of the early stages with Alfie Devine somehow shooting over when it seemed easier to score clean through on goal and Mundle almost missed the target entirely when released on the right side of the area moments later. O’Neill drove wide at the other end after Martial Godo had nodded on a clever ball by Kristian Šekularac, but Borto was by far the busier goalkeeper. The American under-20 international sprinted off his line to thwart Kallum Cesay before producing a splendid fingertip save after reaching Mundle’s marvellous curler that looked destined for the far corner.
O’Neill volleyed wide as he hurried a shot when found by Jay Williams, but Spurs continued to pen the visitors back. Devine raced clear of the Fulham defence but screwed his shot horribly wide. He could have been caught in two minds about whether to pull the trigger, with Yago Santiago in good position in middle. But the hosts didn’t have too much time to dwell on that opportunity as Yan Santiago drew them level just after the hour.
Two green-shirted defenders did well to bravely block Mundle’s shot on the spin but the ball bounced kindly for Santiago, who took a touch to steady himself and fired into the far corner from six yards. Fulham went in search of a second but Dibley-Dias and Olly Sanderson had shots blocked, before the striker made a definitive defensive contribution himself getting body in the way of a Spurs shot. Borto somehow repelled a Devine header from point-blank range with Stefan Parkes denying Brandon Lyons-Foster on the rebound.
Wigley’s side almost snatched the points after their goalkeeper’s penalty heroics but Sanderson shot straight at Josh Keeley.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR UNDER 21 (4-3-3): Keeley; Robson, Muir, Fagan-Walcott, Lyons-Foster; Craig, Cesay (Lankshear 77), Devine; John, Santiago (Mathurin 87), Mundle. Subs (not used): Maguire, Dorrington.
GOAL: Santiago (62).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto; D’Auria-Henry, Parkes, Bowat, McAvoy; J. Williams (McFarlane 580, Dibley-Dias; Godo, Šekularac (Tanton 81), O’Neill; Sanderson. Subs (not used): Allen, Okkas.
GOAL: McAvoy (3).
