Fulham’s under 21s showed real resilience as they braved a baffling sending off to draw 3-3 at Portsmouth in their Football League Trophy opening fixture tonight.
Hayden Mullins’ experimental side played more than 45 minutes with ten men after George Okkas was shown a second yellow card for standing too close to a Pompey throw in but managed to take their first group game to a penalty shoot-out, where Devan Tanton saw his sudden-death spot-kick saved as the hosts’ claimed the bonus point. The young Whites battled bravely and emerged from an absolute epic at Fratton Park with real credit, especially as a defensive injury-crisis saw Okkas and others operating out of positon.
Fulham began brilliantly, taking the lead with just 56 seconds on the clock. Jamaican international Delano McCoy-Splatt sent in a cross from the right, Olly Sanderson turned an effort towards goal and summer signing Chris Donnell touched it home from close range to score his first goal since arriving from Perth Glory. The shock stung Pompey into life with sixteen year-old Kobby Mottoh going close with a far post header and Alex Borto spreading himself to save superbly from Paddy Lane.
The in-form Martial Godo looked lively throughout and his twinkling toes fashioned a chance after a lovely run but the winger’s shot was well saved by Ryan Schofield. The hosts levelled from a set-play when former Exeter midfielder Jack Sparkes found skipper Sean Raggett, who headed emphatically home. Mottoh almost put Portsmouth in front from their very next attack but his shot lacked the power to beat Borto. There was no reprieve eleven minutes later, though, when Terry Devlin headed home a cross from Zak Swanson.
Borto dashed from his line to prevent Northern Ireland international Lane extending Pompey’s advantage and Godo’s great anticipation helped Fulham draw level six minutes before the break. The former Margate winger pounced on a poor back pass from Ben Stevenson and beat Ryan Schofield in a flash to make it 2-2. But Fulham’s task of keeping the League One side in check was made much harder in stoppage time when Okkas, who had been booked for a poor challenge, was dismissed when referee Carl Brook deemed he was delaying a Portsmouth throw.
The Whites were up against it in the second half and fell behind to a fantastic 30-yarder from Raggett, who advanced from his centre back position and rifled an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Mullins’ men then had to ride their lick to remain in the contest as Portsmouth poured forward seeking to make their numerical advantage count. Christian Saydee had a shot superbly blocked by Jonathan Esenga, who had a dominant debut at centre back, and Raggett than somehow missed the target completely from a couple of yards out.
Anthony Scully also missed a glorious chance after coming the bench before Abu Kamara sent a free header fractionally over the bar. That might have given Fulham confidence but their equalising goal was truly a moment of magic. McCoy-Splatt played a one-two at pace with Sanderson and then slotted stupendously past Schofield from the acutest of angles to stun the home crowd. Sanderson might even have inched Fulham ahead on the break shortly afterwards, but Portsmouth almost snatched a winner three minutes from time when Alex Robertson hit the post.
The final whistle meant both sides would leave with a share of the spoils but the Trophy’s rules offer an extra point for the winner of a penalty shoot. Borto saved brilliantly from Swanson, but Harvey Araujo blazed badly over with the very next spot kick. Schofield denied Tanton in sudden-death, but this wasn’t a performance for a courageous young Fulham side to be downhearted about. Quite the opposite in fact.
PORTSMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Schofield; Swanson, Raggett, Towler, Sparkes; Devlin, Stevenson; Lane (Robertson 62), Kamara, Mottoh; Saydee (Scully 62). Subs (not used): Smith, Quarm, Poole, Aston, Folarin.
BOOKED: Stevenson, Robertson, Raggett.
GOALS: Raggett (17, 51), Devlin (28).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-3-3): Borto; Tanton, Okkas, Araujo, Esenga; Donnell, Dibley-Dias, McCoy-Splatt (de Jesus 83); Works (Šekularac 83), Godo (Gofford 90+1), Sanderson (McFarlane 90+1). Subs (not used): McNally, Park, Gordon.
BOOKED: Okkas, Tanton.
SENT OFF: Okkas.
GOALS: Donnell (1), Godo (39), McCoy-Splatt (73)
REFEREE: Carl Brook
ATTENDANCE: 5,936
