FA Youth Cup

Leeds United U18 3 (Chadwick 34’, 70’; Lane 53’)

Liverpool U18 1 (Kone-Doherty 89’)

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Richards, Toulson (C), Crew, Cresswell, Lopata-White, Lane (Vincent 74’), Chadwick, Wilson (Chambers 59’), McFadden, McDonald (Pirie 81’). Subs not used: Grainger (GK), Billett, Brown, Pickles.

Liverpool: Misciur (GK), Esdaille (Gyimah 63’), Pinnington, Pitt, Davidson (C), Kelly (Onanuga 46’), Kone-Doherty, Pennington, Ahmed (Young 73’), Laffey, Morrison. Subs not used: Hall, Enahoro-Marcus, Sonni-Lambie, Bradshaw.

Referee: Ben Wyatt

Booked: Crew, Richards (Leeds) (Liverpool)

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 3,460

Leeds United Under-18s booked their place in the FA Youth Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1998 thanks to a stunning 3-1 win over Liverpool Under-21s.

Backed by an impressive crowd under the Elland Road lights, a brace from Rhys Chadwick along with a well-taken Freddie Lane header saw the Whites progress, where they will host Millwall for a chance to reach the final.

United started brightly, with the first chance coming from a Leeds corner. Captain Dan Toulson did well to keep the move alive and played a ball across the box to Freddie Lane at the back post, but the winger could only find the side netting from a tight angle.

Liverpool had a chance of their own on the half-hour mark. A corner was played deep to the back post where Michael Laffey took a touch and drilled a low shot goalwards, but a wall of Leeds defenders saw the Whites clear their lines.

Not long after, Rob Etherington’s side deservedly took the lead at Elland Road. Max McFadden pressed well and pinched the ball off Josh Davidson inside the Reds penalty area.

He calmly played a pass to the back post where the onrushing Rhys Chadwick slotted his first-time effort past the Liverpool goalkeeper, despite the best efforts of the retreating Davidson on the line.

It nearly got better for the home side just before the break as Josh McDonald drove down the left-hand side and fired a shot across the face of goal, but his effort went narrowly wide.

Moments before the half-time whistle, Liverpool almost got back on level terms as Kieran Morrison cut in from the right wing and curled a strike towards the top corner, but his effort sailed just wide of the far post.

HALF TIME: Leeds United U18 1-0 Liverpool U18

Leeds remained unchanged after the break while the visitors brought Afolami Onanuga on for Kyle Kelly in the heart of the midfield.

Minutes into the second half, the Whites extended their lead thanks to Lane’s well-taken header in front of the Revie Stand. McFadden made a bursting run down the left-hand side where he clipped a cross towards Lane at the back post who headed into the back of the net.

The Reds almost grabbed a lifeline when substitute Onanuga weaved his way past the Leeds defence before hitting a low left-footed shot goalwards, but luckily Rory Mahady was on hand to make a smart save.

In the 70th minute, Chadwick got his second and the Whites' third of the game! McDonald skipped his way past the Liverpool defence before drilling a shot goalwards. Kornel Misciur in the Liverpool goal could only palm his effort back into the danger area and Chadwick was there to hit a thunderous effort past the Reds keeper!

Etherington's side continued to dominate when substitute Harvey Vincent burst into the box and forced Misciur into a fine save as the Whites hunted for a fourth.

Moments before the full-time whistle, Liverpool pulled one back when the ball fell kindly to Trent Kone-Doherty who hit a well-struck finish past Mahady.

McFadden almost rounded off a memorable evening with a wondergoal deep into added time, seeing an effort rattle the crossbar from distance as he spotted the goalkeeper off his line.

Seconds later, referee Ben Wyatt brought proceedings to a close, meaning the Whites progress to the Semi-Final of the FA Youth Cup.

FULL TIME: Leeds United U18 3-1 Liverpool U18