Fulham put City on the back foot early on, as a missed penalty by Martial Godo was wiped from minds when Delano McCoy-Splatt’s first-time finish looped over True Grant to give the hosts the advantage.
Only moments later, our EDS equalised, as Tai Sodje scored our first goal of the new season.
The Cottagers restored their lead 15 minutes into the second half, when Martial Godo headed a loose ball into the net, as Fulham took all three points at Motspur Park.
WHAT HAPPENED
The hosts started the new campaign with an injury time winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and looked threating against our EDS side that conceded five goals against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
In the opening phases of the contest, the referee awarded a penalty to the Cottagers, after Martial Godo was felled in the box by a City defender. The Fulham winger stepped up, but his kick was smartly stopped by True Grant in the City goal.
Brian Barry-Murphy’s men grew into the game as Justin Oboavwoduo raced towards the goal, but his effort was saved by on rushing goalkeeper, Alexander Borto, who closed down the angle.
But it was Fulham who broke the deadlock first. Delano McCoy-Splatt latched onto a loose ball in the 18-yard box, before providing a sublime, first-time effort which looped over a helpless Grant.
Only four minutes later, City put our mark on the game with an instant response. Oboavwoduo played a neat ball into Tai Sodje who equalised to get our goal scoring tally up and running for the new campaign.
The pace of the match was still fast, as both teams tried to test each other’s resolve when in possession of the ball, but a few half chances were greeted with the half time whistle.
The second half started like the first, with Fulham pressing us. Godo was a threat down our left hand side, as the American winger had a shot parried out by Grant, before Chris Donnell’s attempt was also well saved.
Their pressure was made to count, as Godo headed the ball into the net after a scramble in the 6-yard box on the hour mark.
Our young blues kept the ball well without threatening a well drilled Fulham side, who could have added to their lead in the latter stages of the match.
HOW WE LINED UP
Brian Barry-Murphy made three changes to the side that got beat by Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
True Grant remained between the sticks, with a back four of Lakyle Samuel, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Max Alleyne and Kane Taylor protecting him.
Isaiah Dada-Mascoll shielded the defence, with Jacob Wright and Will Dickson playing ahead of him in the engine room.
Tai Sodje played as a central striker, with Justin Oboavwoduo and Micah Hamilton supporting on the flanks.
Fulham U21
XI | Borto, Tanton, Araujo, Odutayo, Parkes, Dibley-Dias (C), McCoy-Splatt, Donnell, Works, Sanderson, Godo
SUBS | McNally, Esenga, Okkas, Gordon, McFarlane
Manchester City EDS
XI | Grant, Samuel, Simpson-Pusey, Alleyne, Taylor, Dada-Mascoll, Oboavwoduo, Wright, Sodje, Dickson, Hamilton (C)
SUBS | Galvez, Murray-Jones, Smith, Okeke, Lawrence
WHAT’S NEXT
Manchester City’s EDS are back at the City Football Academy next weekend as we play host to Aston Villa in the Premier League 2.
Kick off is scheduled for Sunday 27 August at 1pm (UK).
Next Fixture
All fixturesPremier League 2
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