Premier League 2

Leeds United U21 1 (McFadden pen 45’)

Crystal Palace U21 1 (Mustapha 57’)

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Cresswell, Ferguson, Monteiro, Mullen (Lopata-White 78’), Moore, Chambers, Coleman (Pickles 90’), McFadden (Render 46’), Toulson (C), Chadwick. Subs not used: Baird (GK), Vincent.

Crystal Palace: Moulden (GK), Kporha, Grante (Cardines 87’), Rodney (Umolu 62’), Sheridan, Jemide, Umeh (Austin 62’), Devenny (C) (Nascimento 62’), Marsh, Mustapha (Gibbard 87’), Agbinone.

Venue: LNER Community Stadium

Referee: Elliot Bell

Booked: Mullen, Coleman (Leeds) Grante, Agbinone, Umolu (Crystal Palace)

Sent off: Chambers (Leeds)

Leeds United Under-21s continued their unbeaten start to the season with a hard-fought draw against Crystal Palace Under-21s, despite playing a large chunk of the second half a man down in York.

In the opening stages, Whites’ keeper Rory Mahady, off the back off a fine display against Aston Villa last time out, continued his impressive form as he made a vital smothering save to deny Zach Marsh arriving at the back post.

After the early Eagles’ pressure, Scott Gardner’s side drove forward through Max McFadden, who picked the ball up inside his own half and, evading multiple challenges from yellow shirts, charged into opposition territory before finding Sam Chambers on the right flank.

His cross was met by the onrushing Rhys Chadwick, but the midfielder’s first-time effort ricochetted off a visitors’ defender, allowing goalkeeper Louie Moulden to collect.

The frenetic start to the game continued moments later when Eyimofe Jemide glanced a header wide for the London outfit, under pressure from a number of Leeds defenders.

Approaching the 15-minute mark, Moulden’s services were again called upon for Darren Powell’s side, making a stunning low save to deny Chambers an opener.

Chadwick’s intelligent pass had found the run of Connor Ferguson on the left flank, with the full-back’s cross eventually finding Chambers on the edge of the area, whose fizzing drive drew a fine stop from the Palace keeper.

The visitors went close once more when Hindolo Mustapha profited on a loose ball inside the penalty area and turned skilfully, with United defender Alfie Cresswell well placed to clear off the line.

Chambers, having started brightly for Gardner’s side, again tried his luck from the edge of the area after being picked out well by Cresswell, seeing his powerfully struck effort cannon off a yellow shirt and bounce agonisingly wide of the far post.

Just after the half-hour mark, the Whites had their closest sight of goal yet when a marauding run from defender Kris Moore resulted in the centre-half crossing superbly for Ferguson at the back post, but at full-stretch, the left-back was unable to guide his effort on target.

Straight down the other end, Mahady then pulled off another magnificent close-range save to deny Marsh from point-blank range, before parrying Joe Sheridan’s header away from danger.

Approaching the interval, Moore was once again involved for Leeds, heading over after rising highest to meet Chadwick’s dangerous set-piece delivery.

Cresswell, having won a penalty in the opener against Stoke City, was then clumsily brought to ground once more inside the area, this time by Palace’s Jemide, with referee Elliot Bell pointing to the spot.

With regular penalty taker Luca Thomas not involved on the evening, up stepped Max McFadden to fire home and give the Whites a half-time lead!

HALF TIME: Leeds United U21 1-0 Crystal Palace U21

After the interval, Moulden made another important save for the visitors after Cresswell had nodded Chadwick’s in-swinging corner goalbound, clutching the ball gratefully as half-time substitute Jacob Render lurked looking for the rebound.

Despite the bright start to the second half from Leeds, Palace would equalise just before the hour mark through Mustapha, who drilled low into the corner from inside the area.

Within moments, the Eagles nearly took the lead as Franco Umeh raced in behind the Whites’ backline, with his low strike cannoning off the outside of the post after good pressure from the onrushing Mahady.

Keen to wrestle back momentum and restore the lead, Ferguson picked out the run of Render with an intricate threaded ball, only for the alert Moulden to charge out and save well from the forward.

Cresswell, an ever-willing runner down the right flank all evening, then latched onto Chadwick’s pass and crossed looking for Render, with the delivery just too high for the substitute to meet.

After a deflected Marsh effort had crashed against the woodwork, the course of the game changed with 20 minutes remaining, when referee Bell showed Chambers a second yellow card after a foul in the middle of the park.

Not to be deterred after going a man down, Gardner’s youthful side continued to threaten, with Moulden again well placed to deny Render from a narrow angle.

Chadwick was next to go close, drilling inches wide of the far post after a superb turn had worked a yard of space for the 17-year-old on the edge of the area to let fly.

Heading into the final five minutes and it was Palace’s turn to attack, with a dangerous ball from the right somehow evading everybody inside the area, before Caleb Kporha’s deflected follow-up was headed wide from Marsh.

In the dying moments, substitute Adler Nascimento spurned a glorious opportunity to win it for the visitors, glancing wide at the back post after finding space to meet a cross from the right.

The Palace pressure continued late on, but the Whites held firm to earn a hugely deserved point and continue their unbeaten start to the season.

FULL TIME: Leeds United U21 1-1 Crystal Palace U21