Olympique Lyonnais produced the perfect away performance to end Fulham’s hopes of Premier League International Cup success by winning 2-0 at Craven Cottage this evening. Romain Perrett rolled the visitors ahead just before time from close range after a brilliant break from their own corner flag before a late penalty from Mathys de Carvalho clinched an impressive victory for Guido Fofano’s side.
The manner of the defeat on a big night by the banks of the Thames would have been tough to take for Hayden Mullins’ men as the hosts dominated possession from the outset and created a succession of clear-cut chances in the first twenty minutes. The Whites began as they meant to go on with Lemar Gordon latching onto a lovely pass from Devan Tanton. Seth Ridgeon might have done better than drive straight at Yvonne Conan in the Lyon goal before Osman headed over from a corner.
The visitors weathered the storm and were fortunate that England under-17 international Alejandro Gomez Rodriguez first completely missed his kick when well placed and then squandered a one-on-one chance against Alex Borto. The home defence was unlocked just before the break through a fabulous breakaway goal. Lyon ruthlessly exploited Tanton’s decision to the press the ball so high from right back, with Pierre Dorival’s delightful through ball sending Gomez Rodriguez sprinting into the box. The striker squared it across goal and Lilian Coponat unselfishly allowed Perret to give Lyon the lead at the back post.
The Whites looked for an immediate reply after the interval with Martial Godo desperately unlucky not to squeeze a shot between Konan and the near post after a brilliant bit of skill outwitted Steeve Kango. Luc de Fougerolles, who completed a second successive fixture after a sustained spell on the sidelines, spurned the clearest chance, skying a shot high into the Putney End from five yards after Lyon had failed to deal with a free-kick.
Osmand sent a header straight at the goalkeeper as Fulham upped the tempo, but they paid the penalty in the final minute of normal time when Jon Esenga’s free-kick was scrambled clear and the French side committed numbers forward. Terrell Works tripped de Carvalho in the area and the metronomic midfielder dusted himself down to send Borto the wrong way.
Fulham’s under 21s will now turn their attention to the PL2 play-offs, where they have been drawn against fifteenth-placed Nottingham Forest in the round of sixteen.
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto; Tanton, Esenga, Amissah, de Fougerolles; Dibley-Dias, King; Gordon (Donnell 67), Godo (McFarlane 84), Ridgeon (Lanquedoc 67); Osmand (Works 84).
BOOKED: Ridgeon, Osmand.
OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS B (4-3-3): Konan; Kango, Chaib, Barisic, Mounsesse; de Carvalho, F. Fall (Mukuba 90), Dorival (Merah 58); Coponat (Benlahlou 90), Perret (Alamine Ali 90), Rodriguez (Gueye 90). Subs (not used): I. Fall, da Silva.
BOOKED: Dorival, Perret.
GOALS: Perret (42), de Carvalho (pen 90).
REFEREE: Stephen Parkinson
