Norwich City scored twice in stoppage time to come back from 3-1 down and deny Fulham under 21s a win on the road in the PL2 last night as Hayden Mullins’ side threw away another winning position.
A brace from the in-form Callum Osmand and a second half strike from teenage midfielder Josh King gave the young Whites a commanding lead but they conceded twice in added twice to leave Norfolk with only a point. Pedro Lima and Joe Duffy grabbed the late goals to earn a share of the spoils for the Canaries, who were rewarded for a commendable never-say-die attitude.
Fulham’s night got off to the worst possible start when the hosts went in front in the fourth minute. Winger Ken Aboh raced onto a through ball from Duffy and finished flawlessly to put Norwich a goal to the good. It might have been worse had Luc de Fougerolles not been in the right place to head away a dangerous cross from Finley Welch as Alan Neilson’s side made a strong side against his old club.
The visitors gradually got into the game themselves with lively winger Lemar Gordon testing home goalkeeper Dan Barden after a strong run along the right wing. Mullins’ men drew level on sixteen minutes when Osmand, a regular scorer for both the under 18s and the under 21s this term, latched onto a lovely ball from centre back Harvey Araujo and clipped a clever finish over the advancing Barden.
The remainder of the first half proved to be an exceptionally open affair. Aidan Manning saw his volley from Welch’s corner well saved by Alfie McNally before an overhead kick from Osmand was well gathered by Barden in the Norwich goal. Dan Ogworu drove wide after being played in by Waylon Renecke before Welch saw his drive deflected wide having linked up well with Aboh.
Fulham remained a threat on the break and dominated possession early in the second half before Osmand’s second of the evening put them in front eight minutes after the interval. The Welsh youth international kept his composure to calmly find the net after being teed up by Kristian S?ekularac and Norwich were indebted to an excellent double save from Ellis Craven, who had come on for Barden at half time, for keeping them in the contest.
The Cottagers did find a third just after the hour mark when the impressive King saw his cross deflected past the unfortunate Craven after Gordon had sent the teenager scampering into the penalty area and, despite strong late pressure from the home side, it looked as if Fulham would hold on comfortably for all three points when McNally tipped over a rising drive from Welch late on.
Substitute Lima’s close-range finish in the first minute of added time appeared to be only a consolation but winger Duffy headed home an equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time to break Fulham’s hearts as he climbed highest to meet a cross from Marcel McIntosh at the far post.
NORWICH CITY UNDER 21s (4-3-3): Barden (Craven 45); Riley, Renecke, Wilson, McIntosh; Djedje (Brooke 77), Manning (Lima 68), Welch; Aboh (E. Mundle-Smith 68), Duffy, Ogwuru (Eze 77).
BOOKED: Wilson, Renecke.
GOALS: Aboh (3), Lima (90+1), Duffy (90+5).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-3-3): McNally; Tanton, Okkas, Araujo, de Fougerolles (Avenall 81); King (Pajaziti 67), McCoy-Splatt (Dibley-Dias 67), S?ekularac; Gordon, Works, Osmand. Subs (not used): Varney.
BOOKED: Araujo, Tanton, Gordon.
GOALS: Osmand (15, 53), King (63).
REFEREE: Ruebyn Ricardo.
