City’s Youngsters Bow Out Of U18 PL Cup At Semi-Final Stage
Four changes were made from the side beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion in the league on Saturday, with Kelechi Chibueze replacing Arlo Doherty between the sticks and Sammy Braybrooke returning to captain the side. Defender Joe Wormleighton and forward Will Alves were also in the XI, while Jesper Kutshienza, Jack Butterfill and Imani Richards dropped out.
The visitors started brightly with Delano McCoy-Splatt taking aim from the edge of the area inside five minutes and seeing his shot blocked by Braybrooke. George Okkas sent in the resulting corner, met by Olly Sanderson, who headed wide.
Just five minutes later, Leicester fashioned their own set piece opportunity, as Braybrooke floated in a cross for Harvey Godsmark-Ford to head narrowly wide of the far post.
But it would be the away side who broke the deadlock. The pressure began when McCoy-Splatt threaded through a neat ball for Luke Harris, who opted to square it for Imani Lanquedoc, but Chibueze was on hand to make a smart diving save, getting down to his right.
The play was recycled out to Michael Olakigbe on the right and his low cross eventually found its way to Harris, whose effort was superbly saved by Chibueze, but City’s ‘keeper was unable to keep out the rebound, which Harris managed to prod home on 17 minutes.
The hosts immediately searched for an equaliser and sensing it would take something special to find a way through Fulham’s defence, Alves twice created space outside the area, but both his attempts were blocked on their route to goal.
A wicked delivery from Joe Wormleighton evaded Chris Popov, but was met by Jahmari Lindsay, although the marauding left-wing back was unable to get a clean enough connection to turn it home at the back post.
The Cottagers remained threatening, too, demonstrated by another dangerous cross from Olakigbe that Lanquedoc headed wide.
It was the young Foxes who remained in the ascendency, however, and after Braybrooke sent a free-kick well over the crossbar, Alves tried to bend one past Mikey Allen, but the shot-stopper comfortably claimed it.
The forward then tried to turn provider for Popov, sending the ball into the path of his strike partner, who was off balance as he sliced his shot wide.
City’s best chance of the half was fashioned by Henry Cartwright, who exchanged one-twos with both Brandon Cover and then Popov before sending the ball agonisingly past the post.
Cartwright tested Allen with his next attempt, forcing Fulham’s no.1 to make a sprawling save and he ultimately did well to hold on in testing conditions, with the lashing rain allowing the ball to skid on the surface.
For all their pressure, the hosts were almost hit with a sucker-punch second goal from McCoy-Splatt. Chibueze could only watch as his dive was not enough to stop the low effort, which rebounded off the post and to safety.
City came out of the blocks quickly for the second period and Alves tested Allen early on, with the shot-stopper claiming at the second attempt.
It would not be long before Fulham imposed themselves again, though, doubling their lead when McCoy-Splatt’s corner was met and headed in by Charlie Robinson on 50 minutes.
The Cottagers almost had a third – and a second assist for goalscorer McCoy-Splatt, who teed up Olakigbe to strike for goal and find Ben Grist in the right place to hook the ball off the line.
Leicester threw everything at it to try and get back into the contest, replacing centre-back Grist with forward Jack Butterfill and moving to a back four. It almost paid off immediately, as Popov twice tested Allen in quick succession.
Logan Briggs was also thrown on for Henry Cartwright in pursuit of a goal, but to no avail as Braybrooke’s free-kick was tipped over, ahead of Popov trying his luck from a centrally positioned free-kick, curling it well over.
The chances dried up until the final minutes as Fulham sat in and soaked up the pressure, cleverly running the clock down in the final minutes to book their place in the final.
Stoppage-time brought a flurry of opportunities, with Popov trying in vain to turn home Braybrooke’s cross, Briggs’ half-volley being diverted over the crossbar and Popov’s shot blocked, before Alves’ low effort produced a diving save from Allen, who maintained his clean sheet.
Major moment…
Conceding a second goal shortly after the break was a setback that City were unable to recover from, despite giving it everything, and their impressive cup run came to an end.
Who impressed?
Will Alves was a constant threat for Fulham’s backline, often carrying the ball from inside his own half and into goalscoring positions. The end product wasn’t always there and Leicester could not find a way through.
Where do we stand?
The young Foxes are knocked out of the competition at the last-four stage, while Fulham progress into the final of the U18 Premier League Cup, where they will face Chelsea on a date to be confirmed after the Blues defeated Stoke City 5-1 in the other semi-final tie.
Coming up...
Leicester return to U18 Premier League South action on Saturday, travelling to face Reading at Bearwood Park Training Ground (12pm GMT kick-off).
The details…
City: Chibueze; Grist (Butterfill 55’), Godsmark-Ford, Wilson-Brown; Wormleighton, Cartwright (Briggs 75’), Braybrooke (C), Lindsay; Cover; Alves, Popov.
Subs not used: Doherty, Kutshienza, Javaid.
All times GMT.