FA Youth Cup
Leeds United U18 1 (Njinko 64’)
Swansea City U18 2 (C Jones 8’, Clarke 120’)
Leeds: Wood (GK), Firth (C) (Thompson 116’), Philpott, Whitehead, Matykiewicz, Howard (Simo 110’), Njinko (Dudley 108’), Alker, Morris, Mills, Mensah. Subs not used: Woolfrey (GK), Watson, Bridge, Bhaskaran.
Swansea: Wright (GK), Clarke, Ifans (Bloniarczyk 91’), Heywood (Evans 91’), Popham, Phillips (May 112’), Rhodes (Gray 67’), Perry (C), Kallicharan (Godfrey 67’), A Jones (Murphy 117’), C Jones. Subs not used: Nowak (GK).
Venue: LNER Community Stadium
Referee: David Jones
Booked: Morris, Whitehead (Leeds) Ifans, Popham, Perry, Clarke (Swansea)
Sent off: Mensah (Leeds)
Leeds United Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup campaign came to an end in cruel fashion, conceding in the last minute of extra time to fall to defeat against Swansea City Under-18s.
Carrick Njinko had levelled for the young Whites after falling behind and, despite dominating at the LNER Community Stadium, Rob Etherington’s team were unable to take the lead before the last-gasp heartbreak.
The home side had an early chance in front of a bumper crowd in York, with defender Louie Philpott creating space down the left flank. Crossing for Jack Morris, the forward’s eventual flick was blocked well by Ben Phillips.
The visitors took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes when attacker Callum Jones twisted and turned his way to the edge of the United area and found the back of the net with a powerful strike.
Looking for an immediate response, skipper Will Firth picked out Samuel Alker 25 yards from goal but, letting fly with his left-foot, the midfielder was unable to trouble Swans’ stopper Tom Wright.
For all the pressure from the hosts, the South Wales outfit went close to doubling their advantage as they broke with pace before captain Harlan Perry lashed over the upright.
After a fine piece of skill by Kenneth Mensah, the forward laid the ball off to Callum Mills who in turn teed up Njinko, though the goalscorer in the previous round flashed a curling effort wide of the far post.
The attacker’s influence was beginning to grow and after chopping beyond a maroon shirt, Njinko fizzed a dangerous delivery across the face of goal. Yet, from a narrow angle, Mills could only find the side netting.
Approaching the break, Leeds drove forward over half-way. Jack Morris deftly flicked past the Swansea back-line, releasing Firth. The defender raced into the area, drawing a fine save from the diving Wright.
The captain then went within inches of restoring parity. Latching onto a loose ball after an electric move down the right, Firth dragged a powerful drive agonisingly wide with Wright beaten all ends up in the final action of the opening period.
HALF TIME: Leeds United U18 0-1 Swansea City U18
With the young Whites unchanged after the interval, the players emerged intent on levelling proceedings. And within seconds, Njinko crashed a dipping strike off the crossbar after showing great tenacity to maintain possession and weave his way into the area.
Etherington’s side were pressing relentlessly and this led to the visitors surrendering play deep inside their own half. Mills capitalised, cutting onto his right foot, but powered over the upright and into the stands.
Shortly afterwards, an Njinko cross was desperately hacked away just yards from goal before the onrushing Mensah could pounce as Leeds continued to threaten in York.
The mounting pressure finally told and it was the lively forward who continued his goalscoring form in the competition! Excellent feet from Morris saw the attacker evade multiple challenges and release Njinko on the right.
Striding onto the ball, the lively forward swept confidently beyond Wright, albeit somewhat aided by a slight deflection, to the delight of the vocal home contingent!
The hosts were firmly on top in the search for a quick-fire second. An enticing Alker corner kick was glanced on by Firth but, with no time to react, Luke Matykiewicz was unable to direct it on target and the ball trickled behind.
Doing brilliantly to wrestle back possession deep into opposition territory, Morris then marauded towards goal, only to be denied by the outstretched boot of Wright.
Despite a flurry of chances at both ends, which saw the Swans hit the woodwork, neither team were able to grab a late winner and the tie went to extra-time.
FULL TIME: Leeds United U18 1-1 Swansea City U18
Leeds, doing brilliantly to battle through the inevitable fatigue, went desperately close to taking the lead inside the opening period of the additional 30 minutes.
Mills, who had been excellent all evening, darted to the edge of the area and looked like he had curled a spectacular effort into the far corner, until the fingertips of Wright flicked the ball beyond the upright.
Morris thought he had put United ahead as he drilled into the bottom corner, profiting on clever build up play from Alker and Mensah, only to see the assistant’s flag raised for offside.
Yet in what was to be a cruel late twist, defender Billy Clarke won the tie for the Swans with the final touch of the encounter, booking the Welsh outfit’s progression to the next round.
EXTRA TIME FULL TIME: Leeds United U18 1-2 Swansea City U18
