U18s Report & Highlights: Palace stage stunning comeback to draw with Fulham

After trailing 3-0 at the break, three breathtaking strikes, scored by Jamar Lee, Oladotun Lamidi and Donte Martin, levelled the score at 3-3, ensuring the points were shared.

Summary:

• Modev makes his U18s debut as a reshuffled side adapts to key personnel stepping up to the U21s.
• 14’: Martin tests Brief with the match’s first shot on target
• 17’: O’Keefe has his 1v1 with the ‘keeper saved.
• 20’: Brief denies O’Keefe with an impressive save.
• 24 – GOAL: Evans scores from short range to give Fulham the lead.
• 29 – GOAL: Deflected cross doubles the visitors’ advantage.
• 42 – GOAL: Evans scores from 40-yards out.
• HT: Palace U18s 0-3 Fulham U18s.
• 62: Modev produces an impressive save.
• 68 – GOAL: Palace drag one back thanks to Lee’s stunning volley.
• 69 – GOAL: Lamidi curls a shot into the top corner to further reduce Fulham’s lead.
• 76’ – GOAL: Martin scores a screamer to level.
• FT: Palace U18s 3-3 Fulham U18s.

Looking to change their fortune after a series of disappointing results, Palace returned to home turf, as they welcomed unbeaten Fulham in the Premier League South.

Although the performances have been encouraging, the Young Eagles’ results haven’t matched the positive signs shown on the pitch.

Javier Alonso made four changes to the team that faced Arsenal last time out, with Rosen Modev, Kwasi Baah, Jamar Lee, and Sebastian Bonsu-Amako making their way into the Palace starting lineup.

The early stages of the fixture were a reflection of the league table. Clearly respecting the visitors’ attacking prowess, Palace maintained a solid defensive shape, allowing Fulham to dominate possession.

After withstanding an early spell of Fulham control, however, Palace created the opening chances of the game.

Breaking into the opposition half, Martin was able to turn and attack the Fulham backline confidently. He attracted the attention of his opposing centre-back before sliding a neat pass into the path of Arthur O’Keefe, who arrived into a one-on-one with the ‘keeper.

He looked to delicately chip the ball over the onrushing shot-stopper, but Zack Brief smothered the ball and denied the Palace forward.

O’Keefe tested Brief again with a speculative off-balance effort, and Lee sent a powerful half-volley just past the post, but just as Palace grew into the match, their streak of bad luck continued.

In the space of five minutes, Modev was unfortunate to drop a looping cross in the six-yard box, allowing Aiden Evans to tap the loose ball into an empty net, and a powerful low driven cross from William Sutton-Bangura ricocheted off Alfie Mulvenna’s toe and into the bottom corner. In what felt like an instant, Palace were 2-0 down, despite a promising start.

But Palace didn’t let their heads drop. They continued to contain and compete with a confident Fulham side, but a moment of captivating quality just before the break further increased Fulham’s advantage.

Evans nicked the ball off the Young Eagles by the halfway line and found an abundance of space in front of him. Yet, instead of driving into the unattended zone, he saw Modev off his line and fired a precise 40-yard effort over his head, handing Fulham a 3-0 lead going into half-time.

In spite of a more positive Palace approach, the start of the second period followed the same pattern as the first. Fulham’s in-possession play was fluent, dynamic and extremely difficult to restrict for Palace.

This was accentuated by a clever team move just after the hour mark. An elegant sequence of passes resulted in Kymarley Morrison surging down the left side before cutting the ball back to the edge of the area. He found Anand Batra, but the forward’s low shot was saved brilliantly by Modev.

Even with several opportunities heading Fulham’s way, Palace were still not deterred, and their incredible resilience allowed something phenomenal to unfold. First up was Lee, who launched a spectacular volley into the top corner.

The strike was pure and venomous, and it catalysed a determined Young Eagles squad.

Just a minute after Palace’s first goal, Oladotun Lamidi provided their second with another brilliant finish. Receiving the ball on the left flank, the winger quickly shifted the ball onto his stronger right foot, curling a shot perfectly into the top right corner.

Finally, to bring the Young Eagles level, Martin got in on the goals, and, once again, it was a stunning strike that beat the Fulham ‘keeper. In almost a carbon copy of Palace’s second, the ball was sent to the left-hand side, but this time it was Martin who picked it up.

He, just like Lamidi, cut inside and picked out the top corner with a dipping shot, completing the improbable comeback.

The final moments of the game were chaotic, but neither side could find a winner. After facing so much adversity in the past few weeks, Palace and Alonso will be proud of the toughness conveyed today and take it into their next fixture: Leeds on October 10th.

Palace XI: Modev (GK), Greaves, Baah (Owoade, 63), Bonsu-Amako, Monk, Mulvenna, Anderson (Campbell, 85), Lee, Martin, O’Keefe (Williams, 85), Lamidi (Shittu, 94).

Subs not used: Barrett, Giddens.

Fulham XI: Brief (GK), Clarke, Morrison, Allen, Driscoll, Konadu-Wall, Sutton-Bangura, Hamilton, Evans, De-Gale, Batra.

Subs not used: Covington, Oluyemmy, Luzajic, Sessegnon, Vally, Grant, Lubega.