Academy Academy lose 2-1 v Fulham

[Steven]

From the Fulham site. :icon_sad:

Academy 2-1 Leicester
Saturday 5th May 2012

Fulham U18s came from behind to defeat Leicester City by two goals to one on Saturday afternoon in the Premier Academy League Play-Off Semi Final. Cauley Woodrow's header had brought the Whites level after Leicester had taken the lead, before Ryan Williams secured victory with a placed finish in the 85th minute.

The opening exchanges of the game had both sides sizing each other up with it quickly becoming apparent why they had each finished top of their respective groups, with some neat interchanges between both sets of players.

The first chance of the game fell to the Whites on 10 minutes when Cauley Woodrow closed down the visiting ‘keeper as he went to clear, with the ball ricocheting to Mesca Na Bangna on the left-wing who fired narrowly over the bar.

The Portuguese youth international was involved in Fulham’s next chance moments later when he won a free-kick 25 yards from goal but Omri Altman’s set piece nestled the wrong side of the net.

Leicester’s first chance fell to Captain Tom Hopper who cut inside from the left before firing tamely into Connor Roberts’ arms.

Good link-up play between Altman and Woodrow on 17 minutes ended with Woodrow finding space on the edge of the area, but his low strike was too close to Connor Brennan in the Foxes’ goal.

Leicester took the lead against the run of play after 24 minutes when Harry Panayiotou slotted into an empty net after Roberts had parried Matt Robinson’s initial effort.

The Fulham ‘keeper was called into action once again on 33 minutes to push Theo Brown’s long range free-kick away and was dominant moments later as he claimed the resulting corner with ease.

Good work from Ryan Williams down the right wing saw the Australian beat his man but Na Bangna’s header from the cross that followed went the wrong side of the post.

Fulham were pressing and grabbed a deserved equaliser five minutes before half-time when Cauley Woodrow beat the Leicester ‘keeper in the air to head in a deep Altman free-kick.

And the Whites striker has a gilt-edged chance to give his side the lead on 43 minutes but sliced wide from a matter of yards after Sean Kavanagh’s bending free-kick had come back off the post.

Fulham came strongly at the start of the second half but almost gifted Leicester the lead when Hopper robbed Kavanagh of the ball in his own area. The striker proceeded to round Roberts in the home goal but then inexplicably hit the ball over from five yards before Woodrow went close to punishing the Foxes but fired over from a tight angle after being played through.

The second period was much more open than the first with the two Connors in goal both participating regularly. First, Ryan Williams tested Brennan with a firm header before Roberts palmed Hopper’s fierce drive away to safety.

Na Bangna was wreaking havoc down the left and went close to forcing an own goal when his cut-back on 57 minutes deflected off a defender and trickled an inch wide of the post. Lasse Vigen Christensen then arrived late to bullet a header over the bar from the resulting corner.

A swift flowing counter attack involving Jack Grimmer and Ronnie Minkwitz on the hour mark culminated with Na Bangna unleashing a powerful left-footed strike that Brennan had to beat away for corner.

The match was end-to-end stuff and Fulham had the ball in the back of the net on 78 minutes when Woodrow poked home Na Bangna’s cross but unfortunately Mesca had strayed just offside in the build up.

The game could have gone either way but Fulham took the lead with five minutes remaining when Ryan Williams calmly slotted home after Leicester failed to deal with a bouncing ball in their area.

Further chances fell to both sides but neither could add to the scoreline so it was Kit Symons' Team who progressed to Saturday's Final against Blackburn Rovers.



Fulham Team: 1. Roberts, 2. Brister, 3, Kavanagh, 4. Christensen (15. Sambou), 5. Grimmer, 6. Passley, 7. Williams, 8. Minkwitz (C), 9. Woodrow, 10. Altman, 11. Na Bangna

Subs (not used): 12. Oberschmidt, 14. Banya, 16. Tankovic, 17. Gameiro, 18. O'Reilly

 

[Steven]

From the OS

Fulham U18s 2-1 City U18s
Posted on: Sat 05 May 2012

City's group-winning Under-18s were beaten 2-1 by Fulham in the Premier Academy League play-off semi-final at Motspur Park on Saturday.

The Foxes gained the lead through a goal by Harry Panayiotou, but Fulham hit back through Cauley Woodrow before Cottagers midfielder Ryan Williams scored a late winner six minutes from time.

After a fairly even opening ten minutes, the fixture burst into life. Fulham could have twice taken the lead, first through Buomesca Tu Na Banga then an Omri Altman free-kick flew inches past Conor Brennan's right hand post.

But City, who beat the Cottagers 3-0 at Belvoir Drive in March, could have taken an early lead through Tom Hopper. The forward skipped past Alex Brister at right-back before forcing Connor Roberts into a comfortable save.

Eventually the Foxes pressure paid off - a powerful left-footed strike by Matt Robinson could only be parried into the path of Panayiotou. The striker, who grabbed the last minute winner for the first team against Leeds United last weekend, thumped his shot into the ground, lobbing Roberts and putting City into the lead in the 25th minute.

A 40-yard free kick from Theo Brown could have doubled City's lead, but the hosts persevered and equalised six minutes before half time. An Altman free kick found Woodrow, who headed Fulham back into the game.

The Cottagers were unfortunate not to grab the lead going into the second half. Sean Kavanagh's placed free-kick hit Brennan's upright before rebounding to an unmarked Woodrow, but the forward failed to claim his second goal of the match.

Leicester burst out of the traps in the second half - Hopper had two opportunities to put City in front but failed to convert a low drive and an unmarked header.

Fulham sprung into life shortly before the hour-mark, as chances for Woodrow and Lasse Christensen were inches away from handing them the lead.

Each defence opened up, creating plenty of attacking action in an end-to-end game. City forced the hosts into conceding an indirect free kick inside the Fulham area following pressure form the forwards, but Steve Smith couldn't convert the glorious chance.

Leicester failed to capitalise and Fulham piled on the pressure. Josh Passley and Tu Na Banga spurned opportunities whilst Robinson and Panayiotou were denied at the other end.

With just six minutes remaining and extra-time looming, Fulham struck a final blow. Woodrow set up Ryan Williams who fired past Brennan from deep inside the City box - a late goal the proved to be the winner.

Despite conceding, Leicester flooded forward in order to seek out an equaliser. Pierre Larrauri and Panayiotou both forced Roberts to make two impressive saves, but City couldn't find the goal that they deserved.