U23s Report: Fulham 1-1 Leeds United

U23s Report: Fulham 1-1 Leeds United

Champions draw in West London.

Premier League 2


Fulham 1 (McAvoy 41’)

Leeds United 1 (Greenwood 4’)


Leeds XI: Caprile, Drameh, McCarron, Jenkins, Casey, Kenneh, Summerville (Allen 45’), Shackleton (Huggins 45’), Greenwood (Dean 45’), McKinstry, Kamwa.

Subs not used: Van Den Heuvel, Moore. 


Mark Jackson’s Under-23s travelled to face Fulham away from home, safe in the knowledge that they had already secured the PL2D2 title in their previous match.

Jackson had been clear after the Aston Villa match that he wanted to see his side end the season strongly, despite already wrapping the league up with the win in the West Midlands.  

Just four minutes in, Sam Greenwood had taken that message seriously by firing Leeds into the lead against the hosts. He picked the ball up on the right hand side of the box following a corner and unleashed an unstoppable strike into the back of the net. 

That was Greenwood’s 10th strike of the campaign, then he and his team looked to go and find more. Jamie Shackleton and Cody Drameh were linking well down the wing and both players had efforts on goal, but couldn’t find the net. 

Elia Caprile had to remain alert down the other end, twice denying Fulham at close range. The ‘keeper also showed agility by jumping highest to claim set-pieces in a crowded penalty area. 

With the interval approaching, a set-piece was the undoing for the Whites as Fulham equalised. A driven corner into the box saw Connor McAvoy out jump everyone and power a header into the bottom of the goal, levelling things up. 

HALF TIME: Fulham 1-1 Leeds United 

Jackson made three changes to his side at the interval. Crysencio Summerville, Greenwood and Shackleton all departed the pitch, with Niall Huggins, Charlie Allen and Max Dean all replacing the trio. 

After equalising just before the break, the hosts came out stronger in the second half. A couple more set-pieces caused problems, but the first real sight of goal came from Sylvester Jasper who struck the post with a powerful long-range effort. 

With 20 minutes or so to go, the match was still level. Liam McCarron broke forward from the back and saw an effort go over the bar, whilst Jasper tried his luck again from the edge of the box for the hosts, which went wide. 

Leeds handled the pressure well through that was coming their way from Fulham. Despite this, the best chances did got the hosts way. Dean was perfectly positioned to clear off the line from another corner from the side, whilst Caprile saved one-on-one to deny Terry Ablade. 

In stoppage time, the big chance that Leeds had been waiting for did arrive. A driving run forward from Huggins saw the full-back play in Dean. The striker controlled well and shot, seeing his effort saved and cleared by George Wickens in the Fulham net. 

The whistle went shortly after and the Whites had earned a hard-fought point in their final away trip of what has been an impressive season.  

FULL TIME: Fulham 1-1 Leeds United


Booked: McCarron, Summerville (Leeds United), Francois (Fulham)

Venue: London School of Economics

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