A stoppage-time strike from Ethan Williams denied Fulham’s under 21s victory over Manchester United in their latest Premier League 2 fixture at Motspur Park this evening.
Winger Williams, who has caught Eric ten Haag’s eye with a serious of sparkling performances for the Red Devils’ academy, beat summer signing Steven Benda with a low drive two minutes into added time at the end of a game that Hayden Mullins’ men had dominated. Fulham will rue the fact that they failed to add to Imani Lanquedoc’s opener midway through the first half, but they were indebted to a fine reaction save from Benda following a goalmouth scramble at the death for preserving a share of spoils.
Benda, making his first Fulham appearance after shaking off the knee injury he suffered last season at Swansea, was joined in the hosts’ starting line-up by Jay Williams and Tyrese Francois, who both excelled after their own periods on the sidelines. Welsh under-21 international Williams shone after slotting into his natural central defensive berth whilst Francois was a prominent figure as the Whites midfielder quickly imposed themselves on proceedings.
There was a moving minute of applause in memory of the late Sir Bobby Charlton after United skipper Shola Shoretire laid a wreath of remembrance in the centre circle. After a quiet start, Fulham fashioned the first clear cut chance when Luke Harris found Lanquedoc on the edge of the area, only for the midfielder to lash over the bar. Lanquedoc made no mistake six minutes later when he raced clear of the United defence and fired past Elyh Harrison into the bottom corner.
Kristian Šekularac, once again leading the line for Fulham, spurned a superb chance to double their lead when he failed to convert a fine cross from Devon Tanton. The Swiss youth international then saw a shot tipped over by Harrison before the United defence blocked a couple of shots in quick succession. United should have snatched the lead after the interval when Willy Kambwala was left unmarked at a corner but the right back headed wide of goal.
Travis Binnion’s side were suddenly seeing a lot more of the ball and both Shoretire and substitute Ethan Ennis went close to breaking the deadlock, but Fulham carved out further chances on the break. Ollie O’Neill fired fractionally wide after seeing space open up after he darted dangerously infield and the Irish under-21 international then worked a clever one-two with Šekularac before seeing a powerful drive repelled by Harrison.
The home side were punished for failing to put the game out of United’s reach when Williams rifled a finish through a host of bodies and beyond Benda into the net.
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Benda; Tanton, Esenga, Williams, Araujo; King (Donnell 58), Francois; Lanquedoc (Works 58), O’Neill (Osmand 89), Harris; Šekularac (Okkas 89). Subs (not used): McNally.
BOOKED: Francois, Harris.
GOAL: Lanquedoc (22).
MANCHESTER UNITED UNDER 21s (4-3-3): Harrison; Kambwala (Nolan 61), Murray, Aljofree (Huddlestone 83), Bennett; Collyer, Shoretire, Hason-Aronsen; Mejia (Williams 78), Mather (Ennis 45), Hugill. Subs (not used): Plumley.
BOOKED: Hanson-Aronsen, Nolan.
GOAL: Williams (90+2).
REFEREE: Gary Parsons.
