Fulham’s under 18s made sure of a spot in the quarter finals of the Premier League Cup after beating Nottingham Forest 4-2 at St. George’s Park yesterday.
Goals from the in-form Aaron Loupalo-Bi, Terrell Works, Harvey Araujo and Tom Olyott clinched a commanding win for Ali Melloul’s men. Fulham looked in irresistible form going forward and cut loose in the second half firing out a warning to potential opposition in the last eight of the competition.
The visitors took the lead just before the half hour when the lively Lemar Gordon surged along the right flank and cut a lovely ball back from the byline that allowed Loupalo-Bi to stroke home his eighth goal of an already impressive season. Forest replied swiftly with Jerome Sinclair scoring at the second attempt ten minutes later having been denied by a brilliant reaction save from Alfie McNally. The Fulham goalkeeper couldn’t do anything to prevent the equaliser when the loose ball fell kindly for the Forest full-back.
The leveller could have dented Fulham’s spirit, but the young Whites still headed in at half time in front thanks to more another fine piece of play from Gordon. This time the winger floated in a fine cross for Works, who clinically volleyed in his fifth goal of the campaign. The Londoners extended their advantage five minutes after the interval when Araujo punished some sloppy defending to find the bottom corner and substitute Olyott added a fourth seconds after coming on by following up after Brad de Jesus’ shot had been saved.
Forest did find a late consolation courtesy of Theo Robinson, who headed home an excellent Justin Hanks cross to finish off a flowing move, but this was an accomplished display by Fulham’s youngsters.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST UNDER 18s (4-4-2): Bott; Sinclair, T. Robinson, J. Thompson, Hanks; McAdam, Hemmings (Brown 69), Anijsko (Whitehall 69), Nadin; Gardner, Osong (Lister 85). Subs (not used): Willows, Gbopo.
BOOKED: J. Thompson.
GOALS: Sinclair (39), T. Robinson (81).
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): McNally; de Fougerolles, Araujo, Avenall, Amissah; Gofford (Nwoko 71), King (Olyott 71); Gordon, Works (Parker 67), de Jesus; Loupalo-Bi. Subs (not used): Conway, Quashie.
GOALS: Loupalo-Bi (29), Works (44), Araujo (50), Olyott (71).
REFEREE: Gareth Davis.
