Fulham’s under 21s overcame a stubborn Celtic side – with a little bit of luck on their side – to record their first win in the Premier League International Cup at Motspur Park tonight.
Steve Wigley’s side edged an enthralling six-goal thriller, having trailed to a spectacular strike from Rocco Vata until just before half-time when Luke Harris lashed in an equaliser. The Welsh teenager was fortunate to have avoided giving away a penalty after clipping Matthew Anderson in the Fulham area moments earlier – the Celtic captain was cautioned for diving – and the home side’s fortune continued straight after the interval when Dylan Corr produced a brilliant sliding tackle to dispossess Olly Sanderson but the loose ball beat an otherwise inspired Tobi Oluwayemi into his own net.
Celtic looked to have brought themselves right back into the contest when Adam Brooks converted Bruno Davidson’s low cross within sixty seconds of going behind but they were immediately reduced to ten men when Ewan Otoo was dismissed for bringing down Sanderson as he raced through on goal. The visiting centre half was convinced he got the ball, but referee Aji Ajibola pulled out a red card.
That made Fulham’s task significantly easier. The visitors held out until ten minutes from ten when substitute Terrell Works released Sanderson in the inside right channel and the centre-forward squared for O’Neill to find the far corner with a precise finish. The Irish under-21 international was then incandescent with rage when he was clearly caught in the box by Corr but the referee waved away his appeals. Celtic broke straight down the other end and could have equalised again but for a wild Brooks finish, after which several Whites’ players remonstrated with an official who was clearly well out of his depth.
Sanderson, who led the line impressively throughout, sealed the three points in the second minute of stoppage time. The Fulham forward impudently chipped Oluwayemi after being played in on goal by Harris to give the hosts the sort of breathing space that had been denied them during an action-packed contest.
The England youth international had kept Celtic in the contest with a string of fine saves as Fulham began at quite a pace. Harris was thwarted by a sharp save after a clever turn and Sanderson was denied by the goalkeeper before having his goalbound shot cleared off the line by Corr after he had rounded Oluwayemi. The lively Kristian Sekularac was foiled after cutting in from the right flank, but it certainly wasn’t all one way traffic.
Scottish under-21 international Conor McAvoy had been forced into a fine block to prevent Brooks from opening the scoring and the striker showed have scored after a flowing move down the right flank but dragged his effort fractionally wide of the far post with George Wickens rooted to the spot. The Fulham keeper was beaten all ends up by a brilliant long-range effort from Vata, son of former cult hero centre back Rudi, after the skilful seventeen year-old had burst away from two tacklers.
Wigley’s side have now survived two serious examinations by talented opposition in this competition and emerged with four points, which is testament to the team’s ticker as much as their talent.
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Wickens; D’Auria-Henry, Bowat, McAvoy, C. Robinson; Williams (Works 62), Dibley-Dias; Sekularac, O’Neill, Harris; Sanderson. Subs (not used): McNally, Tanton, Araujo, Parkes, Okkas, McFarlane.
BOOKED: O’Neill.
GOALS: Harris (45), Corr (o.g. 46), O’Neill (78), Sanderson (90+2).
GLASGOW CELTIC UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Oluwayemi; McPherson, Anderson, Corr, Otoo; S. Robertson, Summers (Wylie 78); Davidson (Carse 69), Vata (Quinn 89), Letsosa; Brooks. Subs (not used): M. Robertson, Clarke, Dawson.
BOOKED: Anderson.
SENT OFF: Otoo (48).
GOALS: Vata (34), Brooks (47).
REFEREE: Aji Ajibola.
