City advance to knockout stage of Under-18 Premier League Cup despite defeat at Derby

City have qualified for the knockout stage of the Under-18 Premier League Cup despite losing 3-2 at Derby.

The hosts ran into a 3-0 lead in the first half with a brace from Justin Oguntolu and a headed goal from Johnson Osong leaving Oliver Reiss's side with a mountain to climb.

However, super substitute Matty Warhurst reduced the deficit just after the hour mark to keep City's ambitions of qualifying for the knockout stage alive and it was the start of the game flipping on its head.

A mistake at the back by Derby goalkeeper Harley Price saw Ryan McAidoo played in by Harrison Miles. The former buried his right-footed shot to leave a one-goal gap between the two teams with 15 minutes left.

Despite a tough battle to find a late equaliser, the defeat didn't stop City from qualifying for the next stage of the competition.

With Norwich's 3-1 defeat to Brighton, City placed second in the group with a more favourable goal difference.

WHAT HAPPENED

The scene was set with less than ideal conditions as the wind swept across the pitch ahead of a delayed kick-off at Moor Farm Training Centre.

In our last trip to the Rams, City came out victorious. But it was Derby who started on the front foot, looking for revenge and carved out an early breakthrough inside two minutes.

Osong dribbled past his defender on the left and the resulting shot was saved low by Max Hudson, but fell to Owen Eames who mishit his shot but Oguntolu was in the right place in the box to divert the shot into the back of the net.

Moments later, Luca Fletcher's looping header was easily caught by Price, with the wind coming into full effect in the match.

Derby were aggressive and came close to scoring a second as Reiss’s side gave the ball away in the middle of the pitch.

Niall McAndrew ran from inside Derby’s half to the edge of the 18-yard box with the ball and hit the inside of Hudson’s post with a low effort.

The host’s pressure resulted in a second on 25 minutes after a free kick from the right was headed in, Osong the player who rose the highest in a packed box.

Osong was dominant in the air again and nearly headed in his brace from a corner, but Hudson got the better of the winger’s effort on this occasion.

City were playing dangerously with the ball in defence, and as a result, Kian Noble lost the ball to Osong who looked up before playing a pass through to Oguntolu.

The latter drove towards goal and lifted the ball over Hudson to add a third to Derby’s goal count.

Luca Fletcher thought he had given City a glimmer of hope before the half-time whistle, but the linesman had other ideas as he was flagged for offside and in turn his goal disallowed.

Super substitutes could prove vital in the final score after the break. In-form Warhurst and Reigan Heskey joined the fold early in the second half.

And the former nodded home on 65 minutes to light a spark of hope in Reiss's side. He was teed up beautifully by Divine Mukasa's floated cross as City piled on the pressure.

Shortly afterwards, a poor pass out by the Derby 'keeper saw possession flip back to City. Miles played his pass to McAidoo who thumped the ball into the back of the net with his weak foot.

With one goal between the two sides and 15 minutes left to play, City looked hungry for more with the hosts now flustered by the change in pace from the young boys in blue.

Price denied City of a third, and a second for McAidoo, who this time tried his luck with a curling left-footed effort.

Derby delayed the game as much as possible with fouls and slow play and in turn City's best efforts to find a third were left unrewarded.

But the vital and hard-fought second-half goals from Warhurst and McAidoo mean City place second, behind group leaders Derby, with four points and a more favourable goal difference than close contenders Norwich.

HOW WE LINED UP

Max Hudson started in goal, with a back four of Charlie Courtman, Kian Noble, Kaden Braithwaite and Oliver Tevenan protecting him.

Harrison Miles anchored the midfield with Dan Batty and Divine Mukasa playing further forward in the engine room.

Luca Fletcher played as the sole striker and was partnered by Ryan Mcaidoo and Brooklyn Nfoukeu on the wings.

DERBY XI | Price, K Gordon, I Gordon (Canoville 70'), Tola, Banks (C), Osayande, McAndrew, Allen, Oguntolu (Agustien 90+3'), Eames, Osong

SUBS | Rees, Richards, Green

CITY XI | Hudson, Courtman, Noble, Braithwaite (C), Tevenan, Miles, Mcaidoo, Batty (59' Warhurst), Fletcher (59' Chingwaro), Mukasa, Nfoukeu (46' Heskey)

SUBS | Grigg, Fapetu

WHAT IT MEANS

By the skin of City's teeth, Reiss's side have qualified for the knockout stage on goal difference.

City and Norwich finished the group level on four points but the two second half goals in our defeat saw us finish with a +2 goal difference compared to the Canaries' goal difference of 0.

WHAT’S NEXT

After progressing through to the next round of the Premier League U18 Cup, we’re back in league action next weekend as we play host to Newcastle United at the City Football Academy.

Kick-off is scheduled for 12:30 (UK) on Saturday 30 November and the game will be made available to watch for CITY+ subscribers.