Recalled midfielder George Okkas bagged a brace as Fulham’s under 21s came from behind to win a five-goal thriller at Blackburn Rovers yesterday afternoon.
The Whites went behind to a penalty converted by the clinical Ethan Walker on fifteen minutes after the in-form forward had been brought down by goalkeeper Alex Borto. The American youth international got a hand to Walker’s spot-kick but couldn’t prevent the 20 year-old from scoring his fourth goal of the season. Borto then made gathered a drive from Jalil Saadi, who had burst into the Fulham box from left back, as Rovers looked to move further in front.
Fulham struggled to get their fluent football going in a scrappy first half that was dominated by the home side. Steve Wigley had made several changes with Okkas coming into central midfield to replace FK Haugesund-bound Adrion Pajaziti and Olly Sanderson started on the right wing in place of Sonny Hilton. Terrell Works stepped up for the under 18s to make his first start at this level in the number ten role, but it took a lovely left-footed curler from Okkas from the edge of the area to level matters in the first minute of time added on at the end of the first half.
Fulham’s equaliser completely changed the complexion of the contest. Within moments of the restart, right back Devan Tanton whistled a volley just wide of the far post and the home side were now being penned back in their own half by a prolonged period of pressure from the visitors. Okkas bent his second of the afternoon around the wall and past a helpless Aidan Dowling from a free-kick that was 22 yards out on the hour mark to put Fulham in front for the first time.
The young Whites added a third only six minutes later. Terry Ablade seized possession from central defender George Pratt in the Blackburn box and showed plenty of composure to guide a finish past Dowling with Rovers defenders closing in. But the hosts were far from finished and made it 3-2 with thirteen minutes to play. Right back Dan Pike’s ball in from the right was nodded back across goal by Walker and Saadi supplied the finish to set up a grandstand finale.
Dowling then produced an outstanding stop to prevent the lively Tanton from getting on the scoresheet. The Fulham full back fired an effort that look destined for the corner of the net – only for the Blackburn goalkeeper to brilliantly turn it over the bar at full stretch. The hosts pushed forward for an equaliser themselves but Fulham held on to secure a hard fought three points.
BLACKBURN ROVERS UNDER 21s: Dowling; Pike, Saadi, Pratt, Gamble; Caddick (Biniek 71), A. Wharton; Montgomery (Duru 82), Gilsenan, Bloxham (Nsangou 71); Walker. Subs (not used): Honor, Wilson.
BOOKED: Gamble, Pratt.
GOALS: Walker (15), Saadi (77).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto; Tanton, Araujo, C. Robinson, D’Auria-Henry; Okkas (McCoy-Splatt 79), Williams; Sanderson, Godo, Works (McFarlane 60); Ablade. Subs (not used): Allen, de Jesus, Loupalo-Bi.
BOOKED: Tanton, Williams.
GOALS: Okkas (45+1, 60), Ablade (64).
REFEREE: Jacob Miles.
