Premier League 2 Division 2 Play-Off Semi-Final
Leeds United U21 2 (Joseph 29’, Perkins 43’)
Aston Villa U21 1 (Young 16’)
Leeds: van den Heuvel (GK), Moore, Mullen, Monteiro, Gyabi, Allen (Ferguson 81’), Gray, Joseph (C), Perkins (Debayo 87’), Rutter (Crew 71’), McGurk (Thomas 71’). Subs not used: Christy (GK).
Villa: Zych (GK), Kesler, Revan (C), Smith, Feeney, Lindley, O’Reilly, Patterson (Afoka 84’), Young, Raikhy (Kellyman 72’), Young. Subs not used: Ealing, Wright, Alcock.
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 3,709
Referee: Gareth Rhodes
Booked: Mullen, Moore (Leeds) Smith (Villa)
Leeds United Under-21s beat Aston Villa Under-21s on Monday night at Elland Road, to progress into the Premier League 2 Division 2 play-off final where they will face Nottingham Forest Under-21s, to determine who will be promoted to Division 1.
Coming into the match, Leeds had faced Villa twice in Premier League 2 action throughout the regular season, winning both games 2-1. Paco Gallardo’s side would make that a hat-trick in this one, after goals from Mateo Joseph and Sonny Perkins cancelled out Brad Young’s opener.
When the match got underway under the lights in West Yorkshire, it would be Villa who took the lead after just 16 minutes of play. Tommi O’Reilly’s deflected cross looped over the Leeds defence and straight onto the head of Young, who calmly placed his header into the back of the net.
Leeds responded well though. Sean McGurk and Archie Gray were dangerous, forcing saves from Oliver Zych in the Villa net. Georginio Rutter and Perkins would also go close, before Leeds did then level from the resulting corner.
It was the skipper who turned home at close range, as Charlie Allen’s excellent corner found Joseph just yards out from goal to fire home and level things up for Gallardo’s side.
The hosts would then grow in confidence in the match, pushing forward and looking for another. McGurk again caused issues and forced another good save, before Joseph came close to his second.
Leeds weren’t to be denied before the break though and did go in ahead. Perkins burst through midfield and played in McGurk, who found space and played it back to Perkins, who struck first time into the top corner with a curling effort.
The whistle went to end an entertaining first half in this play-off encounter, with Leeds taking a one-goal lead into the dressing room.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 2-1 Southampton
The teams came out unchanged for the second 45 minutes at Elland Road. Leeds had the one-goal advantage from the first half but knew their visitors posed danger, having conceded in the opening half.
Villa did have the first chance of this one as well, as Arjan Raikhy fired a warning shot just past the post, with the outside of his right-foot.
Leeds looked to then get forward themselves and McGurk continued to torment the visiting defence with his quick feet, which saw him brought down just outside the area. Perkins struck the free-kick, but curled over the bar.
From then on in, there was very little in the match and few chances created. With 20 minutes remaining, both teams went to their respective benches. McGurk and Rutter came off, with Charlie Crew and Luca Thomas entering the game.
The game continued to see very few chances in the second half. That worked in favour of Leeds who had the lead, with the 3,709 inside Elland Road also pleased to see their side keep calm and stay in control of the match.
Further changes came from the bench. Connor Ferguson and James Debayo were the next two players to enter, replacing Perkins and Allen who had both contributed well to the match.
The advantage allowed them to see the clock down and when the final whistle sounded, it confirmed a place in the final against Forest to determine promotion.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 2-1 Aston Villa
