Academy

U23 Report: Leeds United 2-0 Norwich City

Poveda and Raphinha fire Leeds to victory.

Raphinha Web 5.jpg

Premier League 2

Leeds United 2 (Poveda 3, Raphinha 41)

Norwich City 0

Leeds: Casilla, Drameh, Cresswell, Casey, Davis, Jenkins, Struijk, Hernandez (McKinstry 60), Poveda, Raphinha, Roberts.  Subs not used: Caprile, Kenneh, Gelhardt, Huggins.

Venue: Thorp Arch

A strong Leeds United Under-23s side, including the likes of Pablo Hernandez, Raphinha and Tyler Roberts recorded a 2-0 victory over Norwich City in the Premier League 2 at Thorp Arch.

Leeds made a fine start to the game, opening the scoring inside three minutes.  A looping pass from Hernandez sent Roberts into the area and he lifted the ball over goalkeeper Jon McCracken, with Ian Poveda then on hand to slot home into the empty net.

The Whites pressed for a second from a free-kick.  Hernandez delivered a cross, with defender Oliver Casey glancing a header just wide.

Norwich had a big chance to level in the 14th minute.  William Hondermarck stole possession and sent Tom Dickson-Peters through on goal, but he puts the chance wide.

Next Jack Jenkins tested Norwich goalkeeper McCracken, firing a fizzing effort from inside the Canaries box, but he was denied by a fine stop.

Norwich saw a goal ruled out in the 25th minute, when Hondermarck was on hand to convert a chance at the back post following a low cross, but the referee had blown for a foul in the build-up on Poveda.

Leeds then produced some lovely combinations, leading to Hernandez teeing up Poveda, but once more McCracken produced another great save.

Mark Jackson’s side doubled the lead four minutes before the break.  Roberts sent Raphinha through on goal and he deceived McCracken with a lovely shimmy, before putting the ball into the back of the net.

Half time: Leeds United 2-0 Norwich City

Leeds had another opportunity to test McCracken early in the second half after winning a free-kick 25 yards from goal.  Raphinha took it, firing just wide from the set-piece.

Poveda teed up Brazilian Raphinha as Leeds continued to attack, but once more McCracken was on hand to keep the score-line down.

The next chance fell to Poveda, but he blazed over when he was found well placed in the Norwich box.

Raphinha nearly doubled his goal tally, when Hernandez floated in a lovely cross from the left flank, but the Brazilian could only head over the crossbar.

Roberts saw a low strike saved, before Pascal Struijk had two opportunities.  Firstly from a corner, he saw a strike at the back post superbly blocked on the line by Andrew Omobamidele and he then fired over with a volley from the edge of the box.

Once more, Norwich had McCracken to thank in the 70th minute, when Poveda’s deflected cross brought out the best of the Canaries stopper.

Raphinha saw a penalty appeal turned down, before another corner led to another Leeds chance, with this time Casey firing a volley over the bar.

Casey saw a deflected strike from the edge of the box saved in the closing stages, as the Whites came away with a convincing victory.

Full time: Leeds United 2-0 Norwich City

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