Callum Osmand set Fulham’s under-18s on their way to impressive victory over Chelsea yesterday morning just hours after scoring a sensational bicycle kick as the under-21 side had put six past Brentford.
The Welshman, operating in the number ten role behind the fit-again Aaron Loupalo-Bi, took only six minutes to put Ali Melloul’s side in front at Cobham with a glorious glancing header from Tom Olyott’s corner. Fulham hit the front just seconds after Osmand had been denied by an excellent save from Brad de Jesus’ deep cross. It was nearly two from another set play nine minutes later but Chelsea goalkeeper Luke Campbell produced a good reaction save to keep out de Jesus’ powerful header.
But the visitors were in total control and doubled their lead through a lovely long-range effort from England under-19 international Chibby Nwoko. The midfielder strode onto a precise pass from Olyott and lashed into the top corner from distance to put clear water between the sides just eighteen minutes into the derby.
The Blues had offered very little going forward apart from an audacious early free-kick from Reiss Russell-Denny but Michael Denning saw a shot blocked by captain Ollie Gofford, who had a commanding game at centre half, before Russell-Denny drove over and Samuel Tabares got in the way of a drive from lively winger Ato Ampah, who also tested Alfie McNally’s reflexes in a strong spell for the hosts.
But the visitors, wearing that garish pink away strip, got through to half-time with their two-goal cushion intact and threatened to extend their advantage immediately after the interval. The Olyott-Osmand axis was in operation again with the in-form Welsh teenager firing fractionally wide after connecting with another clever ball from the dangerous wide man. Sam Amissah, playing at left back, then produced an incredible intervention to block a goalbound effort from Ampah to keep Fulham’s clean sheet intact.
Josh King, fresh from some outstanding outings for England’s under-17s during the international break, then produced a peach of a pass to put Loupalo-Bi in the clear after bursting through the Chelsea midfield. Last season’s golden boot winner made no mistake despite missing the start of this term through injury to put the SW6 derby out of the home side’s reach just seven minutes into the second period.
Chelsea pushed for a route back into the contest. Somto Boniface guided an effort just past the far post before Frankie Runham somehow steered his finish wide of an unguarded net after rounding McNally but the Blues did deny Fulham a clean sheet in the sixth minute of stoppage when striker Shim Mhueka smashed Ampah’s pass high in the top corner – giving McNally little chance.
There was no time for Chelsea to do any more to save their 100% record as Melloul’s men moved to the top of the table after an outstanding away performance. The young Whites face second-placed Crystal Palace at Motspur Park on Saturday morning.
CHELSEA UNDER 18s (4-3-3): Campbell; Acheampong (Antwi 89), Boniface, Murray-Campbell, Wilson; Russell-Denny, Harrison, Golding; Ampah, Runham (Wade 90+3), Muehka. Subs (not used): Crampton, Olagunju, Washington.
GOAL: Mhueka (90+6).
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): McNally; de Jesus, Amissah, Tabares, Gofford; King (Nsasi 77), Nwoko; Olyott, Gordon, Osmand (Ali Wahid 69); Loupalo-Bi. Subs (not used): Kaiser, Park, Bogle-Campbell.
BOOKED: Loupalo-Bi.
GOALS: Osmand (7), Nwoko (18), Loupalo-Bi (52).
REFEREE: Joanne Horwood.
