City kick off UEFA Youth League campaign with Napoli win | OneFootball

Floyd Samba’s fierce strike and an injury-time penalty from Reigan Heskey proved decisive as City beat Napoli 2-0 in our UEFA Youth League opener.

After a goalless first half, 16-year-old Samba's fierce 50th-minute strike fired City ahead before Heskey secured all three points with the last kick of the game from the penalty spot.

It was a deserved three points for Ben Wilkinson's side who kept their patience against well-drilled opponents.

Kaden Braithwaite and substitute Harrison Miles also went close as City dominated for much of the game.

WHAT HAPPENED

City began our 2025/26 UEFA Youth League campaign with two players making their European debuts with Dante Headley and Floyd Samba in Ben Wilkinson’s starting line-up.

Ryan McAidoo was the only player to start in both games from our previous outing in the competition last season, when we fell to a last-minute 1-0 quarter-final defeat to AZ Alkmaar.

And the winger started quickly against Napoli, posing a big threat down the right and testing keeper Claudio Pugliese with a couple of snapshots that were comfortably saved.

The well-organised visitors proved difficult to break down, with little to no space to manoeuvre around their aggressive back-five.

But City were composed and were almost ahead in the 35th minute with the best opening of the first half; Kaden Braithwaite denied by the strong left hand of Pugliese after the defender powerfully headed a deep cross from his centre-back partner Kian Noble.

City upped the gears in the second half with Heskey cutting inside for a curling effort in the 47th minute, which was palmed clear before Floyd Samba gave City the lead.

The 16-year-old turned sharply and smashed a vicious strike into the top left corner to claim a fantastic first European goal for the midfielder.

It sparked Napoli into a reaction, with Spike Brits called into action to make his first meaningful save from Ivan Anic.

But it was City who continued to dominate,  Miles firing inches wide before deep in stoppage time, Heskey was brought down inside the box and converted from the spot himself to wrap up the win.

TEAMS

CITY XI | Brits, Headley (Nfonkeu 73’), Noble, Braithwaite, McFarlane, Fapetu, McAidoo (Dunbar-McDonald 71’), F. Samba (Miles 80’), Sangare (Warhurst 85’), Oboavwoduo, R. Heskey.

SUBS | Wint, Hudson, Drake, T. Samba, Midwood.

NAPOLI XI | Pugliese, Olivieri, De Luca (Lo Scalzo 46’), Prisco, Gambardella, Caucci, D’Angelo, De Martino (Cimmaruta 58’), Iovine (Garofolo 46’), Anic (Torre 85’), Esposito (Saviano 55’)

SUBS | Spinelli, Marotta, Palomba, Favicchio.

AS A RESULT

City begin our 2025/26 Youth League campaign on the front foot, with an important three points in the League Phase.

UP NEXT

Our EDS now prepare for the EFL Trophy. We travel to Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday 23 September, with kick-off against the League One outfit scheduled for 19:00 (UK).