Premier League 2
Sunderland U21 2 (Mitchell 40’, Geragusian 42’, Harrison Jones 75’)
Leeds United U21 0
Sunderland: Cameron (GK), Jenson Jones, Bainbridge, Middlemas, Anderson, Bell, Jaydon Jones (Lenz 65’), Harrison Jones (C), Mitchell (Lavery 64’), Watson (Whittaker 64’), Geragusian. Subs not used: Metcalf (GK), Kindon.
Leeds: Ombang (GK), Douglas, Moore, McFadden (Firth 57’), Lopata-White, Cresswell (C), Vincent (Richards 57’), Chadwick, Gray, Pickles (McDonald 46’), Nfonkeu. Subs not used: Grainger (GK), Simo.
Venue: Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground
Referee: Declan Brown
Booked: Jenson Jones, Anderson, Middlemas, Lenz (Sunderland)
Leeds United Under-21s’ impressive unbeaten run come to an end with a defeat against Sunderland Under-21s away from home.
On a bitterly cold evening on Wearside, the hosts started brightly with Thomas Watson twice going close, firstly dragging a long-distance effort narrowly wide of the upright before the winger was denied by a fine block inside the area by Reuben Lopata-White.
Clever link up play down the Black Cats’ right flank then sent full-back Jenson Jones in behind who in turn crossed for skipper Harrison Jones, though a superb last-ditch challenge from Leeds captain Alfie Cresswell averted the danger for Scott Gardner’s side.
After soaking up the early pressure, the Whites launched an electric counter through Harvey Vincent. Marauding to the edge of the area, the attacker looked to find onrushing striker Harry Gray, only for the ball to cannon off Joe Anderson and into the arms of Daniel Cameron.
As the hosts drove at the United defence once more, Cresswell almost diverted a dangerous delivery beyond Darryl Ombang, with the versatile defender fortunately seeing the ball narrowly sail over the upright.
Beginning to pose a real threat on the break, the Whites, on the night in yellow, drove at the heart of the hosts’ defence. Quick feet from Max McFadden worked a shooting opportunity from the edge of the area, with a left-footed drive deflecting off a red and white shirt and looping agonisingly past the post.
A fantastic sprawling save from Ombang then smothered Ben Middlemas’ close-range opportunity before Mitchell dragged wide, but the hosts took the lead shortly before the break with Finn Geragusian and Mitchell both on hand to bundle the ball home following a scramble inside the area.
Geragusian would add a quickfire second almost immediately, finishing confidently into the bottom corner after finding space on the right.
In what had been a hectic few minutes, Cresswell went within inches of halving the deficit as he met a corner from the right. His volleyed effort left Cameron rooted to the spot, cannoning off the foot of the woodwork and away from danger.
HALF TIME: Sunderland U21 2-0 Leeds United U21
A first change at the break from Gardner brought Josh McDonald into the action in place of Oliver Pickles with Leeds emerging for the second 45 minutes looking a side intent of clawing their way back into proceedings.
McDonald was involved straight away driving at the hosts’ backline, with Connor Douglas then winning a corner on the right. Rhys Chadwick swung in a dangerous delivery which Kris Moore rose highest to meet, powering a header narrowly over the crossbar.
In similar fashion to the first half, however, the tie was quick to see action at both ends and Sunderland would have added a third through Watson, if not for a sublime low save from Ombang to tip the goalbound strike past the far post.
Chadwick was next to try his luck for United, lashing a fierce drive wide from distance. Further reinforcements from the bench then came with Will Firth and Joe Richards both introduced.
Substitute Elias Lenz went close to putting the tie to bed with just over 20 minutes of time remaining, rattling the upright before Geragusian was unable to direct the rebound on target.
The third did come courtesy of Harrison Jones, with the striker seeing a low shot nestle in the bottom corner beyond Ombang in the Leeds goal.
The forward then squandered a glorious opportunity to extend his team’s lead when through one-on-one but was unable to find the back of the net in the final meaningful action of the evening.
FULL TIME: Sunderland U21 3-0 Leeds United U21
