Goals from Terrell Works and Idris Odutayo were enough to maintain Fulham under 21s 100% start to the Premier League International Cup as the young Whites edged out Athletic Bilbao B 2-1 at Motspur Park this evening.
Winger Works nodded Fulham in front with an emphatic header before central defender Odutayo headed home from a corner, but Hayden Mullins’ side had to show their defensive mettle to earn all three points in a tight contest after Quicala Bari converted a penalty to reduce Bilbao’s arrears. Goalkeeper Alex Borto made a couple of strong saves to preserve Fulham’s lead in the second half as the Cottagers held on to claim an impressive victory.
Mullins selected Devan Tanton at right back after the defender made his international debut for Colombia, with Chris Donnell moving into midfield alongside sixteen year-old Josh King behind the talented Luke Harris. Athletic, top of the Spanish four tier, came to play football and their enterprising approach made for an eye-catching encounter with both sides working pretty passing triangles in the first fifteen minutes.
Tanton produced a terrific sliding challenge to halt a dangerous run from Bari, but it was the home side who hit the front midway through the first half when their two wingers combined. The lively Imani Lanquedoc lifted a lovely ball into the box, picking out the run of Works, who soared effortlessly to head home. King then forced a fine save from Oier Gastesi when he hit a venomous drive from 25 yards, but the Athletic Club goalkeeper stood no chance when Lanquedoc whipped in another dangerous delivery and Odutayo headed into the bottom corner.
The visitors responded rapidly with Inigo Lopez forcing a smart save from Borto before another purposeful run from Bari culminated in the right winger being felled in the area by Jon Esenga. Bari dusted himself down to convert the spot-kick to bring his side back into the tie. Gastesi made a brave block just before half time to prevent King from restoring Fulham’s two-goal advantage after being played in by Harris.
The Basque outfit began the second half on the front feet as Odutayo blocked a Pieo Canales effort before excellent covering defending from Harvey Araujo denied Carlos Matteus and Borto saved from Javier Sola. That seemed to spark Mullins’ side back into life and Gatesi thwarted strikes from Harris and Aaron Loupalo-Bi in swift succession. Bilbao pushed for a late expensive but American goalkeeper Borto was decisive in fisting away a strike from substitute Urko Iruretagoyena as Fulham’s under 21s finished a fine year with a hard-fought win.
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto; Tanton, Esenga, Araujo, Odutayo; Donnell, King (Okkas 63); Lanquedoc, Works (Loupalo-Bi 45), Harris; S?ekularac. Subs (not used): McNally, Slade, Williams, Gofford, Gordon.
BOOKED: Harris,
GOALS: Works (23), Odutayo (30).
ATHLETIC CLUB B (4-4-2): Gastesi; Montero, Ebro, Eguiliuz (de Luis 45), Sola (Izeta 76); Rego, Gerenabarrena (Bita 68), Bari (Gift 68), Olabarrieta (Mattheus 45); Lopez, Canales. Subs (not used): Palacin, Gamen.
BOOKED: Ebro, Rego.
GOAL: Bari (pen 38).
REFEREE: Stephen Parkinson.
