Chibby Nwoko inspired Fulham’s under 18s to rediscover that winning feeling this afternoon by edging an epic against Brighton and Hove Albion at Motspur Park this afternoon.
Ali Melloul’s side, fresh from reaching the semi-finals of the Dallas Cup last weekend, had to come from behind after Albion scored from a clinical counter-attack with Sahil Bashir keeping his composure impressively to beat Dino Kaiser after latching onto a lovely ball from Aidan West.
England youth international Nwoko turned the game decisively in Fulham’s favour by pressing high up the field as the Whites scored twice in the space of the three minutes. Nwoko punished a poor pass from visiting goalkeeper Lorenz Ferdinand to level with an unerring finish and then won the ball back high up the pitch and fed Aaron Loupalo-Bi, who fired the young Whites in front.
Nwoko also played a pivotal part in the goal that put the contest out of Brighton’s reach with fifteen minutes left on the clock. Surging on a pass from Loupalo-Bi, he drove deep into Seagulls territory before picking out the run of substitute Tom Wingate, who rifled into the bottom corner seconds after stepping off the bench.
Albion did make things interesting when Harry Howell hammered home from long-range in the final minute of normal time but the Whites stood firm to win a five-goal thriller.
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): Kaiser; de Jesus, Park, Nsasi, Tabares; Nwoko, Quashie (White 90); Zepa (Olyott 62), Ali Wahid (Wingate 75), Ridgeon; Loupalo-Bi. Subs (not used): Varney, Schutter.
GOALS: Nwoko (33), Loupalo-Bi (34), Wingate (76).
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION (4-3-3): Ferdinand; Tasker, Lewis (Mills 61), Mthunzi (Penman 38), Simmonds; Albarus, Gulzar (Owusu 61); Howell, Bashir (Oriola 61), Nti (Belmont 45).
BOOKED: Simmonds, Albarus.
GOALS: Bashir (23), Howell (90).
REFEREE: Luke Chapman.
