Harry Wilson, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Carlos Vinicius scored the goals as Fulham made light of Aleksandar Mitrovic’s absence to beat Brentford in their opening game of the Premier League Summer Series in Philadelphia tonight. An experimental side’s impressive victory was marred by a serious shoulder injury suffered by Joao Palhinha, who looks likely to miss the start of the season.

The Whites hit the front with a strike as stunning as Wilson’s shockingly dyed hair. The Welsh winger curled a fantastic finish past a frozen Mark Flekken from 25 yards after Decordova-Reid and Harrison Reed had switched the play from one flank to the other. Wilson made have doubled the lead when he reached Palhinha’s pass but Flekken parried an attempted lob. The Bees, who had restricted to a single speculative strike from distance by Ben Mee, levelled when Yoane Wissa headed in from on the goalline after Kean Lewis-Potter flicked on Mathias Jensen’s corner.

Bryan Mbuemo then bent a brilliant effort against the far post, but in an free-flowing first half it was Fulham who restored their lead after a moment of magic from Decordova-Reid. The Jamaican international, involved from the start only ten days after he featured in the Gold Cup, drifted in from the left flank, dribbling away from two tacklers, and outfoxing Flekken at his near post with a low drive.

But perhaps the most consequential moment of an encouraging evening came just before the interval when Palhinha, so pivotal to Fulham’s fabulous first season back in the top flight, limped off in pain after colliding with Mbuemo on the edge of the Brentford box. His separated shoulder ‘did not look good’ according to Silva and the Portuguese international’s shift as a makeshift centre back finished early. Rodak did well to repel Wissa’s angled drive in added time as the Whites went in ahead at the interval.

Half-time substitute Carlos Vincius staked his claim for a starting spot by extending Fulham’s lead within two minutes of the restart. The Brazilian beat David Raya with a fine finish after latching onto a lovely Wilson ball. But Kristoffer Ajer brought Brentford right back into proceedings immediately, firing Rico Henry’s cross beyond Bernd Leno. Henry should have levelled matters when he was left unattended in the area but the left-back failed to even hit the target.

Willian was denied another wonderful goal by a fabulous fingertip save from Raya before new signing Nathan Collins, who had talked up the importance of the derby to Thomas Frank’s side, squandered a glorious chance to equalise four minutes from time when he volleyed straight at Leno from close range. Fulham now head to Florida to face Aston Villa, who drew 3-3 with Newcastle United last night, on Wednesday.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Rodak (Leno 45); Tete (de Fougerelles 65), Diop, Palhina (Mbabu 45), A. Robinson (Odutayo 83); Reed, Lukic (Dibley-Dias 83); Wilson (Willian 65), Decordova-Reid (Stansfield 45), Cairney (Harris 65); Muniz (Vincius 45). Subs (not used): Borto, Amissah, Parkes, McCoy-Splatt, Godo.

BOOKED: Wilson, Reed, Willian.

GOALS: Wilson (3), Decordova-Reid (36), Vinicius (47).

BRENTFORD (4-1-4-1): Flekken (Raya 45); Roerslev (Ajer 47), Henry (Bech Sørensen 71), Pinnock (Collins 47), Mee (Jørgensen 47); Janelt (Pressley 71); Jensen (Oneyka 45), Damsgaard (Yarmolyuk), Mbuemo (Olakigbe 45), Lewis-Potter (Peart-Harris 71); Wissa (Baptiste 45). Subs (not used): Strakosha, Ji-Soo, Brierley, Schade.