Tom Olyott’s brace proved in vain as Fulham’s under 21s were beaten by Vancouver under 23s in their second game of the inaugural Kamloops International Cup this afternoon.
Olyott scored twice in an action-packed first half to give the Cottagers a 2-1 half-time lead – but an experienced Canadian outfit roared back to win 3-2.
Vancouver began on the front foot with Damon Park forced to block a fierce drive from Jose Navarro inside the second minute and it was little surprise when they took an early lead. Kembo Kibato saw his first effort well saved by Michael Allen, but the young Fulham goalkeeper was stranded when Kibato followed up to fire his side in front from the rebound.
Lemar Gordon continued his fine form from the first game against Calvary and asked searching questions of the Vancouver defence throughout. One storming run down the left flank set up Kristian Šekularac, but the former Juventus midfielder’s shot lacked conviction and was straight at goalkeeper Niko Giantsopoulos.
Kibato could easily have extended Vancouver’s lead when he produced a brilliant bit of skill to beat two Fulham defenders with a lovely change of pace but curled his eventual effort fractionally wide of the far post. Olyott levelled with a powerful free-kick, which he lashed through the Vancouver wall, and beyond the best efforts of Giantsopoulos.
Olyott and Sam Tabares linked up effectively down the right as Fulham looked to go into half-time ahead but neither Oliver Gofford nor Šekularac could latch onto the ensuing cross. Olyott made amends five minutes before the break, converting a clinical pass from Gofford after an excellent move that saw Gordon produce a peach of pass to set Šekularac in the clear. It might have been worse for Vancouver just before half time as an Olyott corner caused chaos in the box and a grounded Giantsopoulos somehow kept out an effort from Gofford.
Fulham continued to put the Canadians under real pressure after the interval with Aaron Loupalo-Bi seizing on a poor pass out of the Vancouver defence to find Šekularac, who unselfishly fed Gordon but the winger’s effort was well held by Giantsopoulos.
At the other end, Thomas Powell saw a goalbound strike tipped around the post by Fulham’s substitute goalkeeper Marco Underwood but Vancouver found an equaliser with thirteen minutes remaining. Underwood made a good stop to deny Kibato but Tyler Crawford was on hand to convert the loose ball. Vancouver scored a winner with seven minutes left when Elage Bah’s floated cross was chested home by Mikael Cantave.
VANCOUVER UNDER 23s: Giantsopoulos; Buchanan, Campagna, Norman, White, Tahid, Powell, Fry, Kibato, Dzikowski, Navarro.
GOALS: Kibato (7), Crawford (77), Cantave (83).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-3-3): Allen (Underwood 56); Tabares, Nsasi, Amissah, Park (Nwoko 56); Gofford, Šekularac (Works 75), Donnell; Olyott, (McFarlane 75) Loupalo-Bi (Osmand 56), Gordon.
GOALS: Olyott (21, 40).
