Woodrow strikes twice as youthful Fulham see off Orient
Leyton Orient 2 Fulham 3
Cauley Woodrow scored twice and teenager Dennis Adeniran netted on his debut as a youthful Fulham scraped through the League Cup first round.
The 17-year-old Adeniran, playing in midfield with 35-year-old Scott Parker, nodded in Sean Kavanagh’s corner unmarked on 28 minutes to give the Whites a half-time lead.
Woodrow then smashed home an awesome long-range effort from Parker’s indirect free-kick before curling in the away side’s third on 53 minutes.
Substitute Paul McCallum headed in two late goals for Orient to set up a tense finish but the visitors held on to progress to the second round.
Adeniran, Luca De La Torre, Tayo Edun and 16-year-old Ryan Sessegnon were all effective, the four academy graduates making their first senior appearances.
After Adeniran’s opener, left-back Sessegnon almost set up a second when he burst up the left-hand side and crossed just millimetres ahead of an outstretched Woodrow.
Eleven changes were made in total from the Championship opener and goalkeeper Jesse Joronen made a good save from Ollie Palmer to make sure Fulham stayed ahead at the break.
Woodrow had seemingly put the game beyond doubt with two classy strikes but the Whites switched off and let McCallum nod home from a corner unmarked on 72 minutes.
And the Orient striker met the end of a whipped cross into the six-yard box with 10 minutes remaining, although Fulham clung on.
Fulham: Joronen; Sessegnon, Stearman, Ream, Kavanagh; Parker, Adeniran (Tunnicliffe 64); Christensen, De La Torre (Cairney 87), Edun; Woodrow.
Subs not used: Button, Malone, Kalas, Ayite, Smith.
