Premier League International Cup

Leeds United 3 (Carole 40’, Bate 42’, Joseph 61’)

Hertha BSC 1 (Stange 82’)

Leeds: van den Heuvel (GK), Moore (C), Hjelde (Sutcliffe 59’), Monteiro, Mullen, Bate (Crew 85’), Carole (Douglas 66’), Gyabi, Joseph, McGurk (Thomas 68’), Allen. Subs not used: Christy (GK).

Hertha: Kwasigroch (GK), Weiland (Popp 71’), Morgenstern, Abdullatif (Stange 71’), Hussein (Kesik 46’), Lucoqui (C) (Rolke 46’), Dardai, Christensen, Scherhamt, Klemens (da Silva Kiala 71’), Hoffimann. Subs not used: Cetiner (GK).

Venue: LNER Community Stadium, York

Attendance: 340

Referee: Elliot Bell

Booked: Hjelde, Allen, van den Heuvel (Leeds), Rolke, Christensen (Hertha)

Leeds United Under-21s were back in action in the Premier League International Cup at the LNER Community Stadium against Hertha BSC, and ran out comfortable winners to claim their second win in the competition.

Michael Skubala’s side came into the game having beaten OGC Nice 2-0 with a dominant performance in their first game at Elland Road. The away side also got off to a winning start in the competition after beating Blackburn Rovers 2-0.

Despite the good form from both sides, it was a quiet opening 10 minutes on the pitch at the LNER Community Stadium, whilst off the pitch the visitors were backed by around 30 noisy travelling German fans.

The first chance of the game fell to the Whites. Charlie Allen pinched the ball from the Hertha defender and was faced with a one-on-one opportunity, but the keeper stood tall and denied the winger.

The German side had a chance of their own when Gustav Christensen drove into the box and unleashed a shot, but Jeremiah Mullen was equal to his effort with a fantastic block to keep the scores level.

Just before the stroke of half-time, Leeds took the lead! A smart passage of play found Keenan Carole on the right-hand side. He then cut in and whipped a superb effort into the top corner, leaving the keeper with no chance!

It got better for the home side a minute later! Leo Hjelde skipped past the defenders inside the box, before cutting it back to Lewis Bate, who coolly side-footed his finish into the bottom corner to double the lead for Skubala’s side! 

After a frantic couple of minutes before the end of the first half, it was the Whites who took a two-goal advantage into the break.

HALF TIME: Leeds United 2-0 Hertha BSC

Back out for the second half, Hertha were looking to get back into the game. They brought on Tony Rolke and Mesut Kesik for Bilal Hussein and their captain Anderson Lucoqui. The home side remained unchanged.

Moments after the restart Derry Scherhamt had a golden opportunity for the visitors. The striker was played through one-on-one with van den Heuvel, but the German dragged his effort wide.

Just 10 minutes into the second half, Leeds then had a great chance of their own. Carole played a smart outside-the-foot pass into the path of Sean McGurk whose close-range effort was saved by Robert Kwasigroch in the Hertha net. The rebound then fell to Allen who curled an effort goalwards, but his strike rattled the post.

On the hour mark, the home side’s pressure paid off and they had their third! It was Carole again who drove forward and played a smart pass to Mateo Joseph, who lifted his left-footed strike past the keeper into the back of the net.

The away side did pull a goal back late in the game after Kesik drilled a low effort from distance, which fell into the path of Veit Stange, who tapped it home from close range.

This was to be the last of the action in this Premier League International Cup clash, with Skubala’s side claiming all three points against the German side.

The Whites will now look to carry this form into Sunday’s fixture against Liverpool at the LNER Community Stadium.

FULL TIME: Leeds United 3-1 Hertha BSC