U21s Report: Leeds United 1-0 Norwich City | OneFootball

Premier League 2

Leeds United U21 1 (Douglas 36’)

Norwich City U21 0

Leeds: Ombang (GK), Dudley, Lienou, Pickles, Lopata-White, Howson, Vincent (Render 61’), Cresswell (C) (Brockie 61’), Gray, Douglas, McDonald. Subs not used: Mahady (GK), Pirie, Firth.

Norwich: Mitchell (GK), Okwumo, Ozcan, Adelusi, Gee, Bridge (Djedje 78’), Mundle-Smith, Towler (Baumann 69’), Jones, Aboh (C), Chilvers (Welch 56’). Subs not used: Bullen (GK), Domeracki.

Referee: Matthew Scholes

Booked: Lienou (Leeds) Adelusi, Okwumo (Norwich)

Venue: LNER Community Stadium

Leeds United Under-21s dug out a hard-fought victory over Norwich City Under-21s in the Premier League 2, thanks to Connor Douglas’ first-half strike.

Scott Gardner had made two changes to the side that beat Portuguese outfit Sporting CP B last time out on cup duties, welcoming skipper Alfie Cresswell back into the lineup and handing valuable minutes to goalkeeper Darryl Ombang.

The tie got underway with both sides enjoying spells of possession as they searched for an early opening. Errol Mundle-Smith had a sight of goal for the visitors as he curled a speculative effort wide from distance before Canaries midfielder Luke Towler glanced a header beyond the far post.

Moments later, the crossbar was left shaking as United full-back Jayden Lienou powered a fierce effort from the edge of the area that had Rylee Mitchell beaten all ends up, only for the woodwork to come to the Norwich stopper’s rescue.

A poor touch at the back for the Whites then presented a chance to City’s Dylan Jones but just as the striker seemed destined to pull the trigger 10 yards out, a sublime last-ditch challenge from the recovering Louie Dudley averted the danger.

Approaching the half-hour mark and the hosts again went within inches of taking the lead. Midfielder Ollie Pickles whipped a testing corner kick in which had Mitchell scrambling across his goal, seeing the ball crash off the foot of the post and behind.

Gardner’s side were beginning to assert their dominance and the pressure finally told as Douglas was well placed to fire home an opener!

A blistering counter-attack was spearheaded by Harry Gray, racing up field before laying a pass into the path of the overlapping Pickles down the right flank who in turn fizzed an enticing delivery across the face of goal.

The ball ricocheted off the unfortunate Chinaza Okwumo and into the path of the versatile Douglas who made no mistake from close range.

Further brief sights of goal came approaching the break but the Whites were unable to double their advantage before Matthew Scholes’ half-time whistle sounded.

HALF TIME: Leeds United U21 1-0 Norwich City U21

Gardner’s team emerged from the interval unchanged and keen to grab an important second, though the visitors sent a timely reminder that it wasn’t to be one-way traffic.

After an incisive break in the opening moments, Toby Chilvers latched onto a clever flick on by Jones and skewed a wild effort over the bar.

First activity from the Leeds dugout then saw Devon Brockie and Jacob Render introduced into the action, replacing skipper Cresswell and Harvey Vincent respectively.

A dangerous cross from the Canaries’ right-hand side then landed at the feet of the lively Jones though the striker was unable to guide his half-volleyed effort on target.

Down the other end as Leeds began to wrestle back momentum, the two substitutes almost combined to extend their side’s lead as Brockie flashed an enticing cross to the back post which the onrushing Render was inches away from meeting.

Parity would have been restored with 20 minutes of normal time remaining if not for a sublime save from the sprawling Ombang.

Vatan Ozcan picked out the run of Jones who seemed destined to score, only to be denied by the wonderful reactions of the Leeds man before the keeper was mobbed by his teammates.

Having netted the goal that still separated the sides, Douglas then proved his defensive worth as he made a crucial block to divert Zachary Bauman’s left-footed strike away from danger between a number of bodies inside the Leeds penalty area.

Brockie and Render had further chances to put the encounter to bed but were unable to add gloss to the scoreline before Scholes’ full-time whistle signalled a third PL2 victory in five matches!

FULL TIME: Leeds United U21 1-0 Norwich City U21