Fulham under 21s continued their confident start to the new campaign by producing a five-star performance as they thrashed Crystal Palace 5-2 at Selhurst Park this afternoon.
Hayden Mullins’ side made the perfect start when winger Terrell Works put them ahead in the third minute with Martial Godo and Chris Donnell adding further finishes either side of a missed penalty from Matt Dibley-Dias. Palace did convert a spot-kick in the seventh minute of first half stoppage time, but full back Devan Tanton volleyed a stunning fourth off his weaker foot to restore Fulham’s three-goal cushion before Godo converted a penalty he had won himself. Even a late own goal from the unfortunate Harvey Araujo couldn’t take the gloss off an astonishing attacking display.
Just like at Portsmouth in their last outing, the young Whites began at quite a pace. Dibley-Dias won possession and found Godo, who tricked his way past a defender, but saw his speculative shot well saved by Joe Whitworth. It didn’t take long for the visitors to hit the front with Works making no mistake in finding the far corner racing onto Godo’s glorious through ball. Donnell headed against the post from Tanton’s cross before the full back tested the Palace keeper’s relaxes in a serious sell of Fulham pressure.
Whitworth did well to keep out Dipley-Dias’ penalty kick after a handball, but that only seemed to encourage Fulham to turn the screw. The in-form Godo made it two with sensational skills as he beat his marker and made light of an acute angle to leave Whitworth with little chance. Callum McFarlane headed wide from a delightful Dibley-Dias delivery but it was soon 3-0 in any case as Donnell nodded home Dibley-Dias’ pinpoint corner.
Palace gratefully seized upon a lifeline in the seventh minute of stoppage time when Luc de Fougorelles was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. Jack Wells-Morrison stepped up to reduce Palace’s arrears and the hosts began the second period brightly. Justin Devenney went remarkably close to making it 3-2 when he clipped the crossbar with a rising drive from distance.
Tanton settled any lingering nerves about the possibility of a Palace fight back with a venomous half volley and Godo then rounded off the scoring from the spot before Araujo was unlucky to divert an attempt from Chris Francis past his own goalkeeper.
CRYSTAL PALACE UNDER 21s: Whitworth (GK), Imray, Grehan, Francis, Kporha, Raymond, Wells-Morrison, Nascimento (Devenny, 15), Akinwale, Ola-Adebomi (Ebiowei, 72), Umeh (Mathurin, 66). Subs (not used): Izquierdo, Sheridan.
BOOKED: Ola-Adebomi, Imry, Wells-Morrison, Kphorba
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-3-3): Borto, Tanton, Essenga, de Fougerolles (de Jesus 74), Araujo; McCoy-Splatt (Okkas 34), Dibley-Dias, Donnell; Works (Sekularc 65), Godo, McFarlane (Osman 72). Subs (not used): McNally.
BOOKED: Dibley-Dias.
GOALS: Works (3), Godo (26, 68), Donnell (45+1), Tanton (65).
