A brace from Aaron Loupalo-Bi helped Fulham’s under 18s to a thumping 5-0 win over Norwich City at Motspur Park yesterday.
Ali Melloul’s youngsters hit the front inside seven minutes as the in-form striker fired an unerring finish in the bottom corner. Loupalo-Bi doubled his tally within four minutes after being set up by Tom Olyott before the winger put the Whites 3-0 up after 21 minutes by rifling a superb shot high into the net from the acutest of angles.
The Canaries’ miserable afternoon continued when striker Finlay Corke put through his own net to make it four six minutes before the break. Fulham continued to dominate proceedings after the break but could add only one further goal when two of Melloul’s second half substitutes combined. Alfie White set up winger Seth Ridgeon, fresh from scoring twice as England’s under 16s won the Football Federations Cup, to round off the scoring.
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-4-2): Varney; de Jesus, Slade (Park 64), Amissah, Nsasi; Nwoko, Gofford (Ridgeon 54), Olyott, Ali Wahid; Iwhiwhu (White 64). Subs (not used): Kaiser.
GOALS: Loupalo-Bi (6, 10), Olyott (21), Corke (o.g. 39), Ridgeon (76).
NORWICH CITY UNDER 18s (4-4-2): Bullen; Mundle (Rowland 68), Owen, Ofori-Manteaw, Williams; Bracking, Chilvers, Simbai, Daley; Corke (Newman 61), Roberts (Okpiabhele 81). Subs (not used): Ruddy.
BOOKED: Ofori-Manteaw (90+3).
REFEREE: Lewis Smith.
