A brilliant hat-trick from winger Lemar Gordon inspired Fulham’s under 18s to roar back from behind and thrash Southampton 5-2 this afternoon.
Ali Melloul’s side shrugged off the setback of letting in a goal within the first three minutes to eventually overwhelm the Saints and move into second spot in the Premier League South. The visitors’ forwards, Tommy Lee-Hicks and Nick Oyekunle, won the ball high up the pitch and Oyekunle burst clear of an exposed defence to give the visitors a dream start by finishing clinically past Michael Allen.
Southampton went close to doubling their lead when Higgs sent a free-kick fractionally over the bar and Fulham levelled midway through the first period. The lively Gordon, who had already extended Saints goalkeeper Josh Jeffries, grabbed his first of the afternoon when he lashed in at the near post after a well-worked free kick. An open game saw Oyekunle denied by a brilliant block from Damon Park before Higgs hammered an effort into the side netting.
The visitors were still brimming with confidence and Higgs eventually got his goal, drilling an emphatic penalty right down the middle of goal after he had been upended in the area by Allen. It could have been worse for the young Whites at the interval, but the Fulham goalkeeper reacted well to thwart Higgs, who had latched onto a lovely through ball from Korban McMullan.
Fulham, who had been far too passive up until the interval, sped through the gears in the second half. Gordon drew the hosts level after excellent approach play from Delano McCoy-Splatt and the momentum was suddenly with the young Whites. Melloul’s men were grateful for two superb saves from Allan – who denied McMullan first, for pulling off a wondersave to prevent Oyekunle from scoring inside the six-yard box.
Ealing-born winger Gordon turned provider here teeing up McCoy-Splatt, who squeezed a shot on the stretch between the goalkeeper and the near post. That gave Fulham the ability to cut loose in the final quarter of the contest and Melloul’s side didn’t disappoint. Gordon completed his treble with a terrific curling finish after cutting in from the left flank before full-back Brad de Jesus headed in from McCoy-Splatt’s corner at the death.
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Allen; de Jesus, Nwoko, Amissah, Park; Gofford, Quashie (King 45); Works (Osmand 45), McCoy-Splatt, Gordon. Subs (not used): Kaiser, Wingate, Bogle-Campbell.
GOALS: Gordon (22, 48, 82), McCoy-Splatt (68), de Jesus (90).
SOUTHAMPTON UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Jefferies; Trago, Sheaf, Edmondson, Dobson-Ventura (Fry 72); Miles (Martin 84), Hartness; Oyekunle, Bailey (Gomes 45), McMullan (Gathercole 84); Higgs. Subs (not used): Upstell.
GOALS: Oyekunle (3), Higgs (pen 38).
REFEREE: Daniel D’Urso.
