The Blues were in control for much of the first half and deservedly led 2-0 as we moved towards half-time thanks to goals from Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli and Chizaram Ezenwata, with Fulham goalkeeper Zack Brief making several other saves to keep his side in the contest.

However, Leo Hamilton reduced the deficit in first-half injury time and Fulham struck twice early in the second half to move ahead.

Ezenwata’s penalty brought Chelsea level with 14 minutes remaining but Tarrell Cavell’s second goal of the game then decided the contest.

Two-goal lead established

Heze Grimwade had the first opportunity after eight minutes, dragging a right-footed effort wide from the centre of the box.

Chelsea went ahead five minutes later. Nicoll-Jazuli tried twice from a tight angle before converting at the third attempt from close range.

Ezenwata almost doubled our advantage immediately when his drive from outside the box was tipped over by Brief, before Nicoll-Jazuli struck the right post.

The second goal arrived in the 20th minute. Richards played the ball down the line to Jashayde Greenwood, whose square pass left Ezenwata with a simple finish.

Brief denied Greenwood with a fine save from a shot heading towards the top corner and then rushed from his goal to stop Grimwade following a slick Chelsea move.

Calvin Diakite made an important challenge at the other end after Fulham capitalised on a loose pass, but the hosts pulled one back in first-half injury time when Hamilton finished from around eight yards.

Richards tested Brief from distance shortly after the restart, while Isaac Collinson made an excellent save at the other end before the rebound struck the crossbar.

Fulham move ahead

The hosts equalised in the 51st minute through Aidan Evans, who found the top corner. Cavell then put Fulham ahead for the first time five minutes later with another well-taken strike from outside the box.

Chelsea continued to create openings. Ezenwata curled narrowly over, Greenwood sent two efforts off target and substitute Eden Mahoney-Smith was also close with a curling attempt.

The Blues drew level in the 76th minute. After Ibrahim Rabbaj had seen a shot saved, Ezenwata found Nicoll-Jazuli, who was brought down inside the box. Ezenwata stepped forward and drove the resulting penalty into the corner.

Cavell restored Fulham’s advantage six minutes later, though, meeting a cross from the right with a first-time finish.

Nicoll-Jazuli and Greenwood had late efforts as Chelsea searched for another equaliser, before Lewi Richards received his second booking and a red card in the seventh minute of added time.

What it means

The result leaves Chelsea eighth in the Under-18 Premier League table with six points from four matches. Fulham are second with 10 points from their opening four fixtures.

What's next?

The Blues return to Under-18 Premier League action away against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday 12 September. The match will be played at Brighton's Elite Football Performance Centre, with kick-off at 11am.

The teams

Chelsea: 1. Isaac Collinson, 2. Lewi Richards, 3. Dante Waite, 4. Jacob Hall, 5. Calvin Diakite, 6. Isaac Badu Da Silva (18. Trey Faromo-Adebayo 87), 7. Jashayde Greenwood, 8. Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, 9. Chizaram Ezenwata, 10. Heze Grimwade (16. Eden Mahoney-Smith 68), 11. Andrew Pennie (17. Ibrahim Rabbaj HT)
Unused subs: 12. Isago Silva, 13. Jake Murray, 14. Gabriel Sambou, 15. Jayden Malundama
Scorers: Nicoll-Jazuli 13, Ezenwata 20, 76 (pen)
Booked: Richards 15, Grimwade 22, Nicoll-Jazuli 73, Greenwood 85
Sent off: Richards 90+7
Head coach: Dan Hogan

Fulham: 1. Zack Brief, 2. Marley Clarke, 3. Kymarley Morrison, 4. Isaiah Onwuegbusi-Allen, 5. Teddy Driscoll, 6. Lewis Konadu-Wall (18. Khai Vally 65), 7. William Sutton-Bangura (17. Anand Batra 55), 8. Leo Hamilton (15. Bashil Lubega 90+3), 9. Aidan Evans, 10. Dylan De-Gale (16. Kayden Sessegnon 64), 11. Tarrell Cavell
Unused subs: 13. William Ritchie, 14. Benjamin Oluyemmy, 19. Stefan Luzajic
Scorers: Hamilton 45+1, Evans 51, Cavell 56, 82
Booked: Driscoll 45+3, Konadu-Wall 66
Manager: Andrew Joslin