10 man City battle to victory against Leeds

City’s Under-18s were reduced to 10 men in a 3-2 victory with Leeds United at the City Football Academy in the Under-18s Premier League North.

In a dominant first-half display by Oliver Reiss’s team, Harrison Miles handed City the breakthrough on 32 minutes, with a direct strike beating George Kenyon from far out, before Divine Mukasa drilled in his 12th goal of the campaign in fine fashion.

Fortunes changed for City in the second-half as Kaden Braithwaite conceded a penalty, and received a straight red card, which Oliver Pickles dispatched. The visitors completed the comeback when Joe Billett’s spectacular effort from far out beat Max Hudson to draw the game level.

Late on, Divine Mukasa struck a winner late on to hand Oliver Reiss’s team an eleventh consecutive league win and remained in pole position in the Under-18s Premier League North.

WHAT HAPPENED

City kicked-off what was the reverse fixture from the opening weekend of the Under-18s Premier League North against Leeds United on a cold, but sunny morning at the City Football Academy.

Luca Fletcher battled and won the ball back around 20-yards out and was in one-on-one against George Kenyon, but the Leeds United keeper was equal to it.

A minute later Divine Mukasa dribbled into the box, and laid it off to Harrison Miles on the edge of the box, but his sweeping shot was blocked off the line by a Leeds defender.

It ended in a stalemate the last time these two teams clashed, but City started on the front foot in a bid to make sure this result didn’t end up in the same fashion.

Oliver Reiss’s team increased the pressure on the visitors, as Fletcher had another opportunity denied by Kenyon, before the second ball reached Miles in the box who shot agonisingly wide of the post.

The Yorkshire outfit had their first opening after the half hour mark as Josh Hamilton headed over Max Hudson’s goal, but moments later down the other end, City broke the deadline.

Miles beared down on goal and arrowed a shot from 25-yards out into the bottom left corner, and an outstretched palm from Kenyon wasn’t enough, as the ball rolled into the net.

City had there chances to make it two as captain, Rhys Thomas, and Fletcher, for a third time, were denied by Kenyon.

But the host’s weren’t done there, as Fletcher latched onto a pass down the right and drilled a cross into Mukasa who chested the ball down and struck a half volley past the Leeds keeper to double our advantage before half-time.

Seconds into the second-half, City had a lapse of concentration and gave the ball away to Oliver Boast, but his effort was saved well by Hudson in what was his first action of the match.

Down the other end, Christian Dunbar-McDonald drove into the box before shooting straight at Kenyon. Finlay Gorman was positioned well for the follow up, but it was blocked.

City still had momentum with Gorman trying his luck from far out which was comfortably saved and Fletcher had a drilled effort sting the palms of the Leeds shot stopper.

Just as City were stopped from making it three at one end through Gorman, our fortunes were about to change as the visitors were awarded a penalty and Kaden Braithwaite received a red card.

Oliver Pickles stepped up and converted the spot kick, springing Leeds into life.

Ryan McAidoo’s strike looked to be hitting top right corner, but not for a finger tipped save, before Harrison Parker headed the following corner straight into Kenyon’s gloves.

Leeds began to cause more danger to our backline, as Freddie Lane dispossessed a City defender before shooting straight at Hudson.

15-minutes from full-time, Leeds levelled proceedings, as a looping effort from right back Joe Billett hit the back of the net, as City had to dig in for the remainder of the match.

City were in unknown territory, as they had to defend for large spells with The Whites pushing for a winner, but in the dying embers of the match, Divine was played through by Matty Henderson-Hall and tapped the ball past Kenyon.

HOW WE LINED UP

Reiss selected Max Hudson to start between the posts, with a back four of Matty Henderson-Hall, Harrison Parker, Kaden Braithwaite and Rhys Thomas protecting him.

Harrison Miles played in a deeper role alongside Finlay Gorman and Divine Mukasa in City’s midfield.

Ryan McAidoo and Christian Dunbar-McDonald provided attacking width, with Luca Fletcher playing centrally in the attacking line.

CITY XI | Hudson, Henderson-Hall, Parker, Braithwaite, Thomas (C), Miles (59’ Courtman), McAidoo, Gorman (70’ Batty), Fletcher (70’ Warhurst), Mukasa, Dunbar-McDonald (67’ Fapetu)

SUBS | Grigg

LEEDS XI | Kenyon, Firth, Bird (C), Whitehead, Billett, Hamilton, White, Pickles, Boast, Lane, Render (75’ Morris)

SUBS | Wood, Watson, Simo, Miles

WHAT IT MEANS

An eleventh successive victory for Oliver Reiss’s team keeps City in top spot, only a point behind city rivals Manchester United who beat Wolves this afternoon and have two games in hand on us.

City sit on 34 points, having scored a league-high 53 goals and conceding only 13 this campaign.

WHAT’S NEXT

Next up, we face a top of the table clash, taking the short trip to Carrington to face Manchester United in what could be a Under-18s Premier League North title deciding match.

Kick-off is scheduled for 11:00 (UK) on Saturday 1 February.