City U19s win UEFA Youth League penalty shootout after dramatic FC Midtjylland clash | OneFootball

After a thrilling 2-2 draw in 90 minutes, 10-man City's Under-19s won a dramatic penalty shootout 5-4 to overcome FC Midtjylland in the UEFA Youth League Round of 32.

Julius Emefile fired the hosts ahead at the end of the first half after a tense opening 45 minutes.

Lakyle Samuel’s thumping header drew City level inside the opening 10 minutes of the half in what was a perfect response from Ben Wilkinson’s squad.

After City were reduced to 10 men after Charlie Gray’s dismissal, fortune continued to favour Midtjylland after Jaden Heskey put the ball in the back of the City net with a mis-hit clearance.

But the young boys in blue showed real grit and managed to carve out another equaliser with substitute Matty Warhurst converting from close range.

It was straight to penalties when the whistle blew on 90 minutes.

City scored all five penalties and goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff proved the star of the show when he saved one of the hosts' spot kicks before then converting the winning penalty himself to ensure City advanced to the Round of 16.

WHAT HAPPENED

The Ikast Stadion, a venue in a town with a population of approximately 16,000, played host to our first knockout stage game of the 2024/25 campaign.

Our opponents, who qualified for the Round of 32 through the Champions Pathway, were seeking to continue their positive form in the competition which had seen them go unbeaten in their last five games without conceding.

But Ben Wilkinson’s City were determined to begin the game enjoying as much of the ball as possible when the match got under way in front of almost 2,000 fans.

The hosts, however, put City under a lot of pressure and looked to pounce early with Sofus Johannsen seeing his effort from inside the box deflect for a corner inside the opening few minutes.

Sebastian Oppenhagen had the next best chance on 11 minutes with the right winger cutting inside and firing a left-footed effort towards goal but Whatmuff punched away the strike comfortably.

In an instant City were up the other end of the pitch with Divine Mukasa’s curling cross headed over the Midtjylland bar by Matty Henderson-Hall after birthday boy Stephen Mfuni, who was 17 today, won the ball back in the opposition’s half.

Justin Oboavwoduo then forced a save from Johan Selin on a quarter of an hour. The City number nine was played in by Henderson-Hall and looked set to sneak the ball in at the near post but the ‘keeper’s fingertips nudged the ball onto the post.

With both teams struggling to orchestrate chances over the next 20 minutes, the heat began to rise on the pitch with a series of fouls from both sides looking to disrupt play.

Whatmuff was called into action as half-time approached after a misplaced pass saw Nicolaj Hansen fire from the centre of the box but the City goalkeeper made himself big and stopped the shot.

But the hosts then capitalised on a City error when Emefile gave the hosts the lead on 41 minutes.

The Midtjylland forward intercepted Whatmuff’s pass out before ball rolling to give himself space and fired the ball past the Blues 'keeper.

City tried to retaliate before the break with Jaden Heskey, Henderson-Hall and Oboavwoduo linking up well on the edge of the Midtjylland box. The latter nudged the ball goal-bound but was once again denied by Selin.

City charged out the blocks when the second half began with Oboavwoduo carrying the ball towards the right side of the box but the forward dragged his shot across the face of the goal.

Wilkinson’s team talk at half-time had clearly fired up his players as we swiftly drew level.

City broke down the left with Reigan Heskey playing Mukasa down to the by-line. The midfielder floated the ball high towards the penalty spot and Samuel was in the perfect place to jump high and head home to stun the hosts on 51 minutes.

Jaden Heskey saw his glancing header fly wide just after the hour mark as City continued to pile on the pressure.

Our next best chance came in the form of a long-range effort from Charlie Gray on 71 minutes, Selin tipping the ball over his crossbar.

However, despite City’s domination, the game then changed in a heartbeat. Gray was deemed to have kicked out at substitute Musiliu Odekunle and was shown a second yellow card and sent down the tunnel on 74 minutes.

Sofus Johannesen hit the left post from the resulting free-kick 25 yards out before Jaden Heskey tried to clear on 78 minutes. However he mis-hit the ball and it flew past Whatmuff to give Midtjylland the lead for a second time.

It was now or ever for City with 10 minutes left on the clock. A driving run forward by Max Alleyne saw the centre-back drive at the byline. He pulled the ball back to substitute Matty Warhurst who volleyed home from inside the six-yard box.

In our final attack of the game, Warhurst played a chipped ball in behind to substitute Christian McFarlane who was tugged down on the edge of the Midtjylland box.

Mukasa struck the resulting free-kick well but the six-man wall managed to deflect the ball away for a City corner which was cleared on the second attempt.

With a winner not decided in 90 minutes, the match went to a tension of a penalty shootout.

After Midtjylland scored the first, Mukasa stepped up for City. He was fortunate to see his Panenka spot-kick bounce down off the crossbar and over the line.

Whatmuff then crucially saved Pimpong’s penalty to give City the advantage. Warhurst, McFarlane and Jaden Heskey all converted before Whatmuff struck home City's fifth kick to seal a famous win and secure our place in the Round of 16.

HOW WE LINED UP

Oliver Whatmuff was named as City’s number one and worked with a defensive line of Lakyle Samuel, Max Alleyne, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Stephen Mfuni to keep FC Midtjylland at bay.

In City’s engine room, Charlie Gray, Jaden Heskey and Divine Mukasa worked relentlessly to help initiate attacks, regain possession and control play.

Justin Oboavwoduo led our attacking line with Reigan Heskey and Matty Henderson-Hall on hand to add options out wide.

FC MIDTJYLLAND XI | Selin, Konteh Krubally, Bjerge, Nielsen, Hansen, Johannesen, Inyere (Jorgensen 65’), Emefile (Odekunle 46’), Kristiansen (Lodberg 86’), Konradsen, Oppenhagen (Pimpong 65’).

UNUSED SUBS | Novrup, Jensen, Amarsson, Catak, Kjeldal, Jorgensen.

CITY XI | Whatmuff, Samuel, Alleyne, Simpson-Pusey, Mfuni, Gray, Henderson-Hall (McAidoo 46’), J. Heskey, Oboavwoduo (Warhurst 76’), Mukasa, R. Heskey (McFarlane 76’).

UNUSED SUBS | Hudson, Noble, Braithwaite, Dunbar-McDonald.

WHAT IT MEANS

City are through to the Round of 16.

The draw will take place at 11:00 (UK) on Friday 14 February.

UP NEXT

Wilkinson’s side have a bit of time to prepare for our next match which will see us welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Joie Stadium on Monday 17 February with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 (UK).

The Premier League 2 clash, which will see City continue our fight to stay at the league summit, will be available to watch live on CITY+.