Água Santa U19 2-0 Fulham U19

Fulham’s final Dallas Cup game ended in defeat against Água Santa. A very young Fulham side travelled out to Dallas last week, but this was the end of the road despite an encouraging first half performance. There was wave after wave of Fulham attack in the first period, but we couldn’t find our clinical touch, as two quickfire goals in the second period from the Brazilian side killed the contest. Khai Vally led our first charge of the game down the left, teeing up Dylan De-Gale, who wrapped his left boot around the ball beautifully, but the effort dropped just wide. Vally was in again, this time finding himself in the box as he looked to pull the trigger, but he was kicked as he went to shoot. No penalty was given. Chances were falling to the prolific Vally. Bashil Lubega got past his man on the flank with pure strength, squared to Vally on the edge of the box, but an Água Santa defender was well placed to make a block. Vally then did have the ball in the net; a poacher’s type finish from a Logan Cooke knockdown, but the Fulham captain was adjudged to have made a foul as he set up Vally. It only seemed like a matter of time before we’d take the lead, but it was the Brazilian side who scored the opener as a direct free-kick flew past Damian Cech. Just like against C.F. Monterrey, the game slipped through our fingers very quickly. Barely a couple of minutes had past when the second was scored, a low, well struck effort into the bottom corner. Cech prevented the scoreline from becoming three, with a neat double save his highlight, but we missed more chances down the other end. Aidan Evans raced through one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but couldn’t get the elevation to lift the ball over him, while an Anand Batra snapshot also flashed wide in the closing stages. Cech; Gomins (Obeng-John 45’), Cooke © (Taylor 60’), Driscoll, Morrison; Khan, Chingwaro (Evans 45’); Cavell (Batra 65’), De-Gale, Vally (Sutton-Bangura 60’); Lubega (Dair 75’).