After losing to a formidable Manchester City Under-18 team in the FA Youth Cup’s Fifth Round, Leeds United’s Under-18 team was eliminated.
The defending champions got off to a fast start on a windy York night, taking the lead after four minutes as forward Matthew Warhurst was in a good position to head in Ryan McAidoo’s low cross.
In search of a fast reaction, Alfie Cresswell created space in the middle of the pitch and found Rhys Chadwick, who then found Freddie Lane.
The winger saw a dangerous cross cannon behind for a corner kick. A partially cleared ball landed in Lane’s direction from the ensuing set piece.
The left-back then fizzed a pass into Lane inside the area after defender Coban Bird’s fantastic weaving move, but Rhys Thomas’s strong recovery block helped the visitors clear.
Oliver Pickles’ exquisite, threaded pass nearly let striker Oliver Boast through, but City’s goalie Whatmuff, another Oliver, came running out to recover. Rob Etherington’s young team was starting to look threatening on the break.
The course of the match shifted soon before the 20th minute when the Whites were reduced to 10 after full-back Will Firth received two consecutive yellow cards.
Reigan Heskey increased Oliver Reiss’ team’s advantage with a powerful shot that arrowed into the top corner from the ensuing free kick.
But the Whites weren’t discouraged by the score, as they drew one back just before halftime when Boast completed an incredible attacking play! Chadwick on the right slid a risky pass across the face of goal, which the striker scooped in after Josh McDonald did a fantastic job at first, twisting and turning his way to the outside of the area.
The Whites came out of the second half unaltered, striving hard to build on the lifeline that Boast had given them.
Leeds got off to a strong start, with Cresswell flicking a header just over before a taunting Chadwick delivery looped in.
The ball bounced painfully past the upright, but the captain had risen highest to meet the cross and flicked an attempt towards the far post.
When McAidoo took advantage of a sloppy clearing to score his team’s fourth goal of the night, City added another just before the hour mark.
The visitors’ next player to enter the game was Finlay Gorman, who fired into the corner from beyond Kenyon’s dive. Despite the score, the youthful Whites were nevertheless eager to start winning.
The visitors were able to clear their lines thanks to a brilliant recovery by Kian Noble after substitute Harvey Vincent surged down the right side and crossed in search of Jacob Render.
Moving forward In the last moments, Luca Fletcher also scored, guaranteeing City’s place in the quarterfinals as they defended their crown.
