An equaliser from Adrion Pajaziti earned Fulham’s under 21s a hard-fought point against Everton in Southport this evening.
The hosts made the perfect start – taking the lead in third minute when winger Katia Kouyate hammered a half-volley in off the far post. But Fulham hit back just before the twenty minute mark as Pajaziti, playing as a number ten on Merseyside, stroked in a leveller after good work from the lively Martial Godo. Both sides had good chances to take all three points in the second half but had to settle for a point apiece.
Steve Wigley made four changes to the team that was beaten by Chelsea at Motspur Park last weekend. Connor McAvoy didn’t travel north which meant a defensive reshuffle was necessary. Harvey Araujo and Charlie Robinson resumed their centre back partnership that kept a clean sheet for the under 18s in the FA Youth Cup success at Sunderland on Wednesday, whilst Devan Tanton came in at right back with Luciano D’Auria-Henry switching to the other side of the back four. Jay Williams partnered Matt Dibley-Dias in the middle of the park with Pajaziti playing further forward as Godo came in for Olly Sanderson on the left and Callum McFarlane led the line ahead of Terry Ablade.
After their dream start, Everton spurned a good chance to double their lead on ten minutes. Elijah Campbell leapt majestically to meet a corner but headed disappointingly wide. Fulham’s first chance came courtesy of some relentlessly pressing from Dibley-Dias, who won the ball in the home penalty area, but McFarlane saw his snapshot blocked. Pajaziti’s equaliser settled the Whites down and Godo almost put the away side ahead but blasted into the side netting after a sharp counter-attack.
Alex Borto made a smart save with five minutes of the first half remaining, parrying away a strike from Callum Bates before goalscorer Kouyate went close with another venomous volley. The second half started scrappily before Borto made a pair of outstanding saves to preserve parity with eighteen minutes left. The American goalkeeper did brilliantly to block Reece Welch’s shot with his legs and displayed great agility to tip over a header from Kouyate at the ensuing corner.
Fulham threatened towards the end with Zanluk Leban making an excellent one-handed save to thwart Sonny Hilton’s clever chip and Godo shot across the face of goal after Pajaziti’s deflected drive fell kindly for the winger. The point sees Fulham stay in fifth in the PL2 standings. Wigley’s side are next in action in the Premier League International Cup against Wolfsburg on Wednesday night at Motspur Park.
EVERTON UNDER 21s (5-4-1): Leban; John, Samuels-Smith, Welch, Hunt, Campbell; Bates (Iversen 45), Apter, Barker (Higgins 61), Kouyate; Okoronkwo. Subs (not used): Barrett, Heath, Mallon.
BOOKED: John.
GOAL: Kouyate (3).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto; Tanton, D’Auria-Henry, C. Robinson, Araujo; Dibley-Dias (Sanderson 45+2), Williams; Hilton, Godo, Pajaziti; McFarlane (Ablade 78). Subs (not used): Allen, Okkas.
GOAL: Pajaziti (19).
REFEREE: Aaron Jackson.
