Chris Donnell’s second half equaliser secured a point for Fulham’s under 21s against Brentford as the young Whites consolidated their position at the top of their Premier League Cup group at Motspur Park last night.
Brentford took an early lead when Val Adedokun punished a defensive error to feed the in-form Iwan Morgan, who fired his second goal three days into the top corner. But the Bees were indebted to an outstanding goalkeeping display from Vincent Angelini, who denied a dominant Fulham side an equaliser until after the interval, and then made several superb stops to prevent the hosts from finding a late winner.
Angelini’s first save saw him claw away a Donnell header as Ali Melloul’s side looked to find an immediate equaliser and then thwarted the lively Lemar Gordon before excelling himself with two inspired interventions in swift succession. He pushed away a speculative drive from George Okkas before denying Luke Harris with his feet from the rebound despite being wrongfooted.
Brentford also capitalised on their custodian’s magnificence by snatching a second but Borto brilliantly saved a long-distance volley from Max Dickov. Connor McManus rattled the woodwork with a powerful header that had the American stopper beaten but Fulham finish the first period on the front foot, with Luke Harris disappointed to send his own header off target.
Dickov was denied by Borto earlier in the second period, but Fulham enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and their probing was rewarding when Donnell, who demonstrated his versatility by filling in at right back, picked out Okkas, who finished impeccably to bring the Whites level ten minutes into the second half. Borto dashed off his line to prevent Morgan from swiftly restoring Brentford’s lead and the home side held the ascendancy once Ollie O’Neill was brought off the bench.
The Republic of Ireland under-21 international wasted a glorious chance to put Fulham in front when he wasted a one-on-one and then saw a doubly deflected effort from distance cannon back off the crossbar. Callum Osmand headed wide and Harris skied an effort at the death as the young Whites had to make do with a share of the spoils.
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto, Donnell, Williams, Araujo (O’Neill 62), Odutayo; King (Nsasi 85), Okkas; Harris, Gordon (Lanquedoc 63), Sekularac; Loupalo-Bi (Osmand 71). Subs (not used): McNally.
BOOKED: Donnell.
GOAL: Okkas (56).
BRENTFORD B (4-3-3): Angelini; Farr, Adedokun, Zabeli, Kim Ji-Soo; McManus, Owen (Waruih 82), Yogane; Hay, Dickov (Brierely 82), Morgan (Holland 76). Subs (not used): Booth, Laidlaw.
GOAL: Morgan (8).
REFEREE: Gary Parsons.
