MANCHESTER CITY EDS 4, DERBY COUNTY U23 1
- Emil Jacobsen scores after 30 minutes following a mistake by Tosin Adarabioyo
- Jacobsen hits the post with Daniel Grimshaw beaten
- Second half surge by City pays off and Thierry Ambrose poaches equaliser at close range in 56th minute
- Rodney Kongolo put City into the lead after 59 minutes following a Brahim Diaz pass
- Lukas Nmecha put City further ahead after Jadon Sancho’s put him through
- Jadon Sancho’s cross turned into his own goal by Calum Macdonald late on
Second half goals by Thierry Ambrose, Rodney Kongolo, Lukas Nmecha, and a Calum Macdonald own goal completed a second half rout of Derby County after they had taken a first half lead at the City Football Academy.
Emil Jacobsen had scored after half an hour and also saw a shot come off the post as Derby threatened an upset at the City Football Academy during a period when the Rams could and should have stretched their lead but came to regret their wastefulness.
Half time substitutions by EDS boss Simon Davies saw Sadou Diallo and Lukas Nmecha come on for Paolo Fernandes and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and Manchester City improved markedly as Derby faded away under a second half onslaught by City.
City looked very sluggish during the first half of the game, allowing their visitors three presentable chances within the first three minutes.
Emil Jacobsen broke the offside trap early and tested Daniel Grimshaw with a shot which was saved. Jacobsen’s cross was volleyed wide by Alex Babos a minute later while Jacobsen ballooned a chance from 12 yards over the bar after Kellan Gordon found him with a cross.
We saw glimpses of Brahim Diaz’ skill driving on from midfield and showcasing his passing skills while Jadon Sancho proved difficult to track from the left wing whenever he drifted inside.
Despite their early possession they could not test Derby who saw Kellan Gordon’s 20 yard effort saved by Grimshaw while Kelle Roos in the Derby goal had a relatively easy first period.
The goal, when it came on the half hour, was no surprise and Tosin Adarabioyo looked like a player who hadn’t played much football lately when his mistake put Derby striker Jacobson clean through on goal and he made no mistake drilling the ball past Daniel Grimshaw.
Jacobsen carved himself out another chance after Matthew Smith lost the ball in midfield but his 20 yard shot came back off the post with Grimshaw beaten.
Substitutes Sadou Diallo and Lukas Nmecha change the game for Manchester City EDS as they turn over Derby County U23
City improved massively in the second half with the introduction of two substitutes Sadou Diallo and Lukas Nmecha and City attacked with a renewed energy and purpose.
Thierry Ambrose put Jadon Sancho through but his shot was deflected over the bar for a corner.
Nmecha and Ambrose also won corners as their shooting became much more accurate at the start of the second period.
Diaz also got into the action with several turns in the area until his shot was blocked by a Derby defender.
The Rams could not hold on under the pressure of the City onslaught and Thierry Ambrose was on the spot to poach the equaliser when Kelle Roos spilled Lukas Nmecha’s header from a City set piece after 56 minutes.
By this time City were pushing for another goal and got it three minutes later when Rodney Kongolo raced clear and was delivered a peach of a through ball that unlocked the Derby back line and allowed a confident finish in off the crossbar from Dutch midfielder.
Derby rallied briefly and had shots from Babos and Cameron Cresswell blocked before Jadon Sancho skipped past two defenders and squared the ball to Nmecha who was unmarked and picked his spot to beat Roos after 70 minutes.
Thierry Ambrose could have scored City’s fourth with two late chances but one went wide while Roos saved another shot.
Derby’s collapse was complete after Sancho’s cross was turned into his own net by Calum Macdonald to complete an impressive second half for Simon Davies’ team.