An extra-time strike from substitute Chibby Nwoko was enough to seal a nervy win for Fulham’s under 21s over Nottingham Forest in their PL2 last sixteen play-off at Motspur Park this evening.
The England youth international came off the bench to settle a tense tie just three minutes into the first period of extra time. Nwoko fired a fabulous finish past Forest goalkeeper George Murray-Jones from just outside the area after latching onto a ball from right back Devan Tanton. It was a stunning strike worthy of winning any game – and sets up a quarter-final visit to Southampton.
Hayden Mullins made one change from the Premier League International Cup semi-final defeat by Olympique Lyonnais last week, bringing in Imani Lanquedoc in place of Terrell Works. The Whites dominated the first half, but struggled to create clear-cut openings early on with Tanton drilling an effort wide right at the start of the contest. It took another half an hour for Samuel Amissah to head high over the bar after connecting with Jon Esenga’s corner, but Murray-Jones was forced into just a single save before the interval proving equal to a low Esenga effort.
Forest were much more enterprising after the break, with Jimmy Sinclair finding space in the box to draw a sharp save from Alex Borto in the Fulham goal. The hosts sought to re-establish their control but struggled for penetration in the final third with Matt Dibley-Dias dragging a drive wide and Martial Godo failing to make the most of a good opening with a tame shot straight at Murray-Jones after a promising run.
Seth Ridgeon sent an improvised attempt agonisingly wide of the back post before Godo galloped away from defenders down the left to shoot at goal. The winger’s shot squirmed out of Murray-Jones’s hands, but the visiting goalkeeper gathered the ball again as Josh King seemed set to score. Sinclair then scrambled a King shot off the Forest goal-line to ensure the knock-out encounter entered an extra half hour.
Fulham began the first period of extra time on the front foot with Works and Lemar Gordon working a clever one-two only for Murray-Jones to make a save. Nwoko’s sensational strike could have knocked the stuffing out of Warren Joyce’s side, but the Reds rallied commendably after Godo squandered a great chance to settle the tie – shooting at Murray-Jones’s legs when clean through.
Borto also used his legs to superbly stop a shot from substitute striker Frank Djamna before the American goalkeeper was grateful to outstanding defending from centre back Eddy Nsasi as Forest midfielder Jack Nadin looked poised to pick his spot and set up a penalty shoot-out.
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto; Tanton, Esenga, Amissah (Nsasi 107), de Fougerolles; Dibley-Dias, King (Nwoko 84); Lanquedoc (Works 76), Godo, Ridgeon (Gordon 77); Osmand. Subs (not used): Allen.
BOOKED: Amissah, Dibley-Dias, Godo.
GOAL: Nwoko (93).
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (5-3-2): Murray-Jones; Sinclair, McAdam, Powell (Whitehall 90), Hanks, Thompson; Hammond (Newton 97), Nadin, Perkins; Ndala (Blake 45), Berry (Djamna 59). Subs (not used): Willows.
BOOKED: Sinclair.
REFEREE: James Durkin.
