Premier League International Cup
Leeds United U21 0
Borussia Dortmund II 3 (Azhil 11’, Albert 33’, Etcibasi 87')
Leeds: Mahady (GK), Douglas, Lienou, Howson, Howard (Firth 54’), Enahoro-Marcus (Lopata-White 45+3’), Vincent (Wilson 54’), Pickles, Gray, Cresswell (C), Brockie. Subs not used: Ombang (GK), Render, Bird, Pirie.
Dortmund: Ostrzinski (GK), Reggiani, Azhil, Drakas (Tazemeta 83'), Huning (C), Kaba, Cherny (Inacio 63’), Albert (Wessels 75’), Etcibasi, Kabar (Ritter 63’), Krevsun (Reitz 63’). Subs not used: Held (GK), Kegni.
Referee: Melissa Burgin
Booked: Reggiani (Dortmund) Firth, Wilson, Cresswell, Bird, Lienou (Leeds)
Venue: LNER Community Stadium
Leeds United Under-21s fell to their first defeat in the Premier League International Cup on Tuesday evening, losing 3-0 to Borussia Dortmund II.
Scott Gardner made five changes to his side that beat Gateshead in the National League Cup, bringing Connor Douglas, Jonny Howson, Rory Mahady, Harry Gray and Harvey Vincent back into the starting XI.
Will Firth, Jayden Lienou, Jacob Howard, Ollie Pickles, Gray and Jacob Render all made returns to the Under-21s squad, after featuring for the Under-18s in their FA Youth Cup victory over Bristol City Under-18s a week prior.
The visitors got off to the perfect start, as their early pressure was rewarded when Taycan Etcibasi wriggled a pass through to Ayman Azhil, who fired low under Mahady to break the deadlock.
As the Whites looked to level the tie, Lienou sprayed a brilliant cross-field pass to Gray, who carried the ball in-field before finding the fullback again. He crossed early towards a Leeds shirt and forced a corner.
The resulting dead-ball was worked short and to the edge of the box, where Devon Brockie was lurking. He took aim for the far corner but his strike cleared the crossbar.
United kept probing as Gray saw his freekick strike the side-netting when trying to catch the ‘keeper out, and Pickles forced Silas Ostrzinksi into a smart low stop after a slick turn in the box.
However, against the run of play, Dortmund doubled their advantage, Mathis Albert hammering into the top corner just inside the box.
Now more in need of a goal of their own, Leeds kept applying pressure. Gray most notably picking up the ball on the left wing, before cutting inside and shooting, but his effort sailed past the far post.
The visitors capped off the chances in the first half, as Mahady had to be alert to catch Etcibasi’s dig from outside the box, moments before Melissa Burgin blew the half time whistle.
HALF TIME: Leeds United U21 0-2 Borussia Dortmund II
The Whites nearly snatched one goal back five minutes after the restart, after some really nice play allowed Vincent to find space to cross inside the box, but his fizzed ball to the far post was just ahead of an arriving Gray.
Scott Gardner looked to his bench in the 54th minute, introducing Firth and Marley Wilson into the mix and shifting to a back four in an attempt to reduce the deficit.
Leeds then enjoyed a spell of pressure, but without a real clear-cut sight of goal, were unable to find a goal of their own despite a flurry of set-pieces into the Dortmund box.
The visitors seemed comfortable out of possession however, choosing to counter-attack and find some neat openings, keeping the Whites’ backline alert.
Five minutes before full time, Etcibasi picked up a loose ball in the box and slid into the bottom corner, adding a third for the hosts, before Melissa Burgin blew the whistle, condemning our U21s to their first defeat in the PL International Cup this campaign.
The young Whites are next in action on January 10th, travelling to Reading in Premier League 2.
FULL TIME: Leeds United U21 0-3 Borussia Dortmund II
