Premier League 2

Manchester City 3 (Kayky 48’, McAtee 75’, Palmer 90’)

Leeds United 2 (Greenwood 37’ pen)

Man City: van Sas (GK), Oduroh, Egan-Riley (C), Mbete, Wilson-Esbrand, Lavia, Kayky (Tarensi 74’), Palmer, Bolton (Charles 74’), McAtee (Taylor 86’), Bobb. Subs not used: Burns, Slicker. 

Leeds: Klaesson (GK), Ayling (Cresswell 45’), Hjelde (McCarron 44’), Jenkins, Kenneh, Moore, Summerville (Gray 45’), Bate, Bamford, Greenwood (c), McKinstry. Subs not used: van den Heuvel (GK), Gelhardt. 

Venue: Academy Stadium, Manchester

Referee: M. Dicicco

Booked: Palmer, Egan-Riley, Lavia (Manchester City) Bate (Leeds United)

Sent-off: Lavia (Manchester City)

Mark Jackson’s side lost to a late goal away at last years Premier League 2 Division One champions Manchester City, on Monday evening. 

Going into the match, both teams were looking for a win to end their recent run of matches without one, and it made for an attacking encounter between the two sides. 

The big news for the Whites was that Patrick Bamford and Luke Ayling were given starts after spending time out on the sidelines with injuries.  

The hosts had the first major chance of the half, when the lively Cole Palmer who would go on to cause issues throughout the first 45 would unleash a powerful effort onto the crossbar. 

Down the other end, the returning Bamford produced a long-range left-footed strike of his own which found the top corner, but the offside flag denied him a spectacular comeback goal. 

Palmer was City’s main threat and had four further shots on Kristoffer Klaesson’s goal, but only forced the ‘keeper into saving one of those strikes, when in excellent positions. 

Still inside the opening 25 minutes or so, Bamford ran at the Manchester City defence and was brought down on the edge of the box. Sam Greenwood took the free-kick and curled narrowly over the bar with his effort. 

With just under 10 minutes until the interval, the Whites did go into the lead. Lewis Bate played a pinpoint ball through to Crysencio Summerville who ran into the box and was brought down. City captain CJ Egan-Riley was booked, and Leeds had a spot-kick.

Wearing the captain’s armband, Greenwood made no mistake from 12-yards. He stepped up confidently and dispatched the ball into the bottom corner to put the Whites ahead. 

🎯 Greenwood converts from the spot! pic.twitter.com/4yvbnzMwQU

— Leeds United (@LUFC) November 29, 2021

Shortly before the interval, an injury enforced change sent Jackson to his bench. Liam McCarron entered in place of Leo Hjelde, which was to be the last action of the half.  

HALF TIME: Manchester City 0-1 Leeds United 

Ayling and Summerville were taken off during the interval and replaced by Charlie Cresswell and Joe Gelhardt. 

Almost instantly at the start of the second half, the home side equalised through Kayky. The Brazilian found space for himself in the box and slotted the ball beyond Klaesson into the top corner. 

City were then pressuring the Leeds goal looking for a second but the Whites were doing well on the counter. When Nohan Kenneh ran forward through midfield, he was brought down by Romeo Lavia and the midfielder collected his second yellow, meaning he was sent off.

Leeds capitalised on the man advantage instantly. Greenwood showed neat footwork to cut inside and finish low, beyond Mikki van Sas to put his side back ahead, getting his second of the match as well as his teams. 

🕺 Dancing in the floodlights! pic.twitter.com/yst6Y2F4Ie

— Leeds United (@LUFC) November 29, 2021

The hosts weren’t finished though and looked to their bench to add quality and fresh legs, which they did. With 15 minutes to go, the top scorer for the home side equalised with a neat finish to get his 11th of the season. 

There was still time for a winner for City, too. Again, it was a ball in behind and the lively throughout Palmer was there to finish after his initial effort was stopped, he tapped home the rebound and won his side the points. 

FULL TIME: Manchester City 3-2 Leeds United