Fulham under 18s secured a fifth successive win with a stunning showing in the SW6 derby as they put seven past Chelsea this lunchtime.
Ali Melloul’s side were 5-0 up inside 35 minutes as they blew their hosts away with a sensational display of attacking football. Doubles from Ollie Gofford, Aaron Loupalo-Bi and Callum Osmand put the Whites in complete command before an own goal made it 7-0. Chelsea’s consolation came in the first minute of added time, but a much-changed Fulham outfit had long since underlined their superiority.
The overwhelming victory was all the more impressive as Melloul was without several members of the side that had put together an eye-catching winning run. The ill Terrell Works was replaced by Tom Oylett, whilst Brad de Jesus emulated Bobby Decordova-Reid in deputising at right back for Sam Amissah, who is away with England under-16s. The versatile Luc de Fougerolles partnered Caelan Avenell at the heart of a reshaped Fulham defence.
None of the alterations appeared to affect the Cottagers, who were quickly on the front foot. Avenell had a hand in creating the first chance with his raking ball releasing Osmand down the right and the Welshman’s cross offered Gofford an early sight of goal, but he shot flew wastefully over. Chelsea had a headed goal from midfielder Tudor Mendel-Idowu correctly chalked off for offside and the Whites went ahead fortuitously from a corner after ten minutes. Olyott’s delivery was headed against Gofford by a defender – and the ball flew past Luke Campbell.
Just four minutes later, Fulham doubled their advantage. The in-form Osmand surged through the middle of the Chelsea defence and, although his shot was well saved, the lively Loupalo-Bi converted the rebound. The visitors were rampant, now, and Gofford grabbed his second with an assured finish from just outside the area after wrongfooting a home defender. A fourth arrived twelve minutes before half time as Olyott floated a fine ball over the Chelsea defence with Loupalo-Bi racing around Campbell to finish into an unguarded goal.
The Cottagers were far from finished. Two minutes later, Osmand made it five. Olyott was again the provider on what was proving to be a splendid first start at this level – drifting infield before delivering a delicious cross which the Welsh youth international finished with aplomb at the back post.
There was little let up at the start of the second period despite Fulham sitting on a commanding lead. Olyott floated in another cross from the right and Osmand was clinical from close range again to make it six. He was only a snatched finish away from completing a hat-trick after excellent approach play from Loupalo-Bi, before substitute Chibby Nwoko was denied by a good reaction save from substitute goalkeeper Ted Curd.
Alfie McNally was a virtual spectator until the final ten minutes when he spread himself well to deny Donnell McNeilly. Chelsea’s afternoon to forget got even worse with a calamitous own goal from Harrison Murray-Campbell when the centre back’s pass back was horribly miscontrolled by his goalkeeper. The home side did at least get on the scoreline before being put out of their misery by the final whistle as McNeilly converted substitute Chinoso Chibueze’s cross – but this was a devastating drubbing on derby day.
CHELSEA UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): Campbell (Curd 45); Acheampong, Hughes, Murray-Campbell, Akomeah (Wilson 62); Dyer (Rak-Sakyi 71), Golding; Mendel-Idowu (Chibueze 85), George (McMahon 45), Castledine; McNeilly.
GOAL: McNeilly (90+1).
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): McNally; de Jesus, Slade, Avenall (Nwoko 41), de Fougerolles; Parker, Gofford; Gordon (Bogle-Campbell 72), Olyott (Quashie 65), Osmand; Loupalo-Bi (Wingate 72). Subs (not used): Varney.
GOALS: Gofford (11, 19), Loupalo-Bi (15, 33), Osmand (35, 49), Murray-Campbell (o.g. 83).
REFEREE: Thomas Baines.
