A terrific strike from Adrion Pajaziti secured a big win for Fulham’s under 21s at Crystal Palace tonight at Dulwich Hamlet.
An effort from Sonny Hilton – that was diverted home by a Palace defender – and Pajaziti’s fine finish established a two-goal advantage for the visitors before the Eagles halved their arrears through in-form forward Victor Akinwale immediately afterwards.
Wigley recalled Alex Borto and Callum McFarlane and his side made a strong start. Matt Dibley-Dias cracked a shot against the crossbar before Borto made a simple save from Fionn Mooney at the other end of the field. The Whites should have gone ahead in the thirteenth minute after when a terrific cross from Hilton saw McFarlane’s header clawed onto the woodwork by Palace goalkeeper Joe Whitworth, before the young striker blazed the rebound over from close range.
McFarlane then turned brilliantly before shooting at Whitworth after adventurous approach play from Luciano D’Auria-Henry. The visitors did take the lead after eighteen minutes when Hilton’s corner appeared to go straight in, although there was a touch off the unfortunate Whitworth in the Palace goal. Kosovo midfielder Pajaziti quickly doubled the advantage with a fantastic strike from long-range.
Palace almost equalised before half-time when an audacious long-range free-kick from Mooney bounced down off the bar, hit the goal line and bounced away from danger. The hosts were much improved after the interval with Charlie Robinson recognising the danger and denying space for Mooney to shoot. Godo came close to a superb individual goal, dribbling past three Palace defenders and firing wide of the far post.
The hosts pushed to complete their comeback but Borto made a brilliant intervention to deny Akinwale a sight of goal and Wigley’s defence held firm to register an impressive victory.
CRYSTAL PALACE UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Whitworth, Balmer, Grehan, Watson, Adaramola, Imray (Cadogan 68′), Mooney, Vigor (Raymond 88′), Rodney, Omilabu, Akinwale. Subs (not used): Izquierdo, Bell, Addae.
BOOKED: Imray, Rodney, Watson, Vigor, Raymond, Grehan.
GOAL: Akinwale (25).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto, D’Auria-Henry, McAvoy, Araujo, Charlie Robinson, Hilton, Harris, Pajaziti, Godo (Sanderson 84), Dibley-Dias, McFarlane (Ablade 84). Subs (not used): Allen, de Fougorolles, Williams.
BOOKED: Dibley-Dias, McFarlane.
GOALS: Whitworth (og. 18), Pajaziti (24).
