Resilient City overcome Hoffenheim to advance to UEFA Youth League quarter-final | OneFootball

First half goals from Matty Warhurst and Reigan Heskey and a superb defensive display from City’s Under-19s saw us beat Hoffenheim 2-1 to advance to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Youth League.

Warhurst fired City ahead just after the 20-minute mark after a tense opening in our Round of 16 tie.

A deflected Hennes Behrens strike on the edge of the City box drew Hoffenheim level before Reigan Heskey restored our lead in the final seconds of the first half with a fantastic finish.

A superb defensive performance in the second half saw Ben Wilkinson's side hold out for a deserved triumph in Germany to secure our place in the quarter-finals of the competition where we will face either Real Madrid or AZ Alkmaar.

WHAT HAPPENED

A sunny, mild March spring day encapsulated the buzz around the Dietmarr-Hopp-Stadium as Hoffenheim got the game under way.

Due to injuries and difficult fixtures, the hosts had struggled for form as of late, but showed no signs of nerves in the opening exchanges, setting up well in a 4-4-2 formation, which made it difficult for City to penetrate as we hunted for an early opener.

It would be Hoffenheim who carved out the first shot on target. After quick link-up play in the middle of the pitch, the hosts drove towards the City goal.

More tiki-taka on the edge of our box ended with a low Florian Micheler shot on 11 minutes, which 'keeper Oliver Whatmuff collected comfortably.

As we approached the 20-minute mark, Wilkinson’s side had enjoyed a little more of the ball, but Hoffenheim created more chances with Tiago Poller firing high over the bar after an overlapping run by captain Behrens set up the attack.

A high press from City saw Divine Mukasa win back possession, with Wilkinson’s side looking fuelled by frustration at our lack of opportunities in front of goal.

After switching play twice, City made the breakthrough with Max Alleyne in a fantastic give-and-go with Jaden Heskey. The centre-back fired a shot goalbound but was denied by the strong hands of Benkamin Lade.

Warhurst reacted first to the loose ball and tapped home from inside the six-yard box on 23 minutes.

Hoffenheim looked to retaliate quickly, and after Marlon Fass broke through City’s line, the forward fired a low effort towards Whatmuff from the edge of the box, but the goalkeeper’s outstretched leg maintained our advantage.

The hosts had increased their intensity massively since conceding. This time Melvin Onos saw his shot deflect off a City body and onto the left post.

A minute later, Alleyne hit a thumping strike towards Lade, who caught the shot, after composed build-up play by City.

However, the pressure from Hoffenheim paid off as half-time approached. Skipper Behrens carried the ball inside from the left flank, and despite City’s attempts to block his right-footed shot, the ball deflected past Whatmuff to level the scores.

City had time for one final push before the break and it was Reigan Heskey who restored our lead in fine style. Hoffenheim were organised and so it would take something special to find the back of the opposition’s net.

The winger picked the ball up at the left corner of the box, and in usual R. Heskey fashion, he fought off two Hoffenheim players, charged into the box and fired a low, clinical shot into the bottom right corner with his first chance of the match.

The first goal would likely prove vital as the second half began and probably a key talking point for Wilkinson in his half-time team talk.

It was evident when Warhurst nearly got his second of the game inside the first two minutes of the restart after City opted for a quick free-kick but Lade produced a fine near post save.

The next 15 minutes saw play stay in the centre of the pitch with the young boys in blue happy to hold the ball whilst Hoffenheim picked the right time to try to press City.

The hosts managed to work past City’s set-up and trickery from Poller saw him juggle past Braithwaite before opting for a half volley just inside the City box but the effort always looked set to fly high over the bar.

After a City change, which saw Justin Oboavwoduo replace Warhurst, Hoffenheim tried to catch us off guard. A quick attack, led by Poller, saw him cross the ball into a dangerous path but Whatmuff did brilliantly to get down low and palm the ball away.

Lakyle Samuel then came to his aid to deny substitute David Creta from having a comfortable chance. The City defender earned plaudits from his team-mates for clearing the danger on 68 minutes.

The City shot-stopper pulled off another fantastic save, this time to deny Onos from range who hit a nice shot after being teed up by Leonard Krasniqi.

Ryan McAidoo replaced Reigan Heskey on the left and his fresh legs saw City break down the flank where we had seen most joy. The 16-year-old carried the ball inside but a tackle denied him the chance to shoot.

Jaden Heskey picked up the loose ball on the edge of the box and tried to curl an effort into the top-right corner but the ball drifted just wide as we edged towards the final 10 minutes.

Claims of handball rang around the ground after Krasniqi’s shot from the right was blocked by Alleyne with hard work and determination on show from City as we weathered a Hoffenheim storm.

Krasniqi continued to orchestrate chances for the hosts. This time he tried to flick an effort past Whatmuff but the ball flew just wide of the right post to the relief of City’s defenders.

Five minutes of added time meant there was still time for late drama but City continued to play our game, attacking down the left with McAidoo and Mukasa but unable to create a definitive chance.

Henderson-Hall had a great opportunity to volley a third home at the back post but the winger lent too far back as the effort flew over the bar as the clock ticked down.

Solid and resolute defending saw Alleyne pull City out of dangerous waters on multiple occasions with Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Lakyle Samuel and Stephen Mfuni all also putting on a fantastic defensive display too to hold out one of the best German youth teams as City confirmed our place in the quarter-finals.

HOW WE LINED UP

Round of 32 penalty shootout star Oliver Whatmuff earned another Youth League appearance in goal.

In front of the shot stopper, a familiar back four of Lakyle Samuel, Max Alleyne, captain Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Stephen Mfuni looked to protect City’s goal.

In the engine room, Kaden Braithwaite picked up his first knockout stage appearance and was joined by Jaden Heskey and Divine Mukasa.

Matty Warhurst led City’s charge and was accompanied by Reigan Heskey and Matty Henderson-Hall to provide an attacking threat on both flanks.

HOFFENHEIM XI | Lade, Girmann, Behrens, Erlein, Spranger, Dagdeviren, Onos, Micheler, Fass (Creta 59’), Poller, Tairi (Krasniqi 46’)

UNUSED SUBS | Gebert, Fiederer, Saidykhan, Moore, Cizek, Honajzer, Wahling.

CITY XI | Whatmuff, Samuel, Alleyne, Simpson-Pusey, Mfuni, Braithwaite (Noble 88’), Henderson-Hall, J. Heskey, Warhurst (Oboavwoduo 66’), Mukasa, R. Heskey (McAidoo 74’)

UNUSED SUBS | Brits, Hudson, McFarlane, Miles, Gorman, Dunbar-McDonald.

WHAT IT MEANS

City will travel to Real Madrid or AZ Alkmaar for our quarter-final clash.

The game will be placed on 1/2 April. Updates on the fixture will be available on mancity.com and the Official Man City App in the coming weeks.

UP NEXT

Our attention turns back to the Premier League 2 and Sunday 16 March when we welcome Crystal Palace to the Joie Stadium.

Kick-off in Manchester is scheduled for 14:00 (UK) with live coverage of the match available on X: @ManCityAcademy and a detailed match report and post-match reaction to follow shortly after the final whistle.