MANCHESTER CITY U19 3, NAPOLI U19 1
Brahim Diaz scored twice and Benjamin Garre finished off a late team goal as Manchester City’s U19 side beat Napoli U19.
Napoli proved awkward opponents after a slow start, cancelling out Diaz’ first goal through Raffaele Russo, before City managed to overcome their organised opponents to win their third straight game in the UEFA Youth League.
Blustery and bright conditions at the City Football Academy were a little challenging during the early stages of this game but the home side should have taken an early lead when a long ball from the back released Nabil Touaizi but young striker contrived to miss the open goal after rounding Maurizio Schaeper in the Napoli goal after just three minutes.
Rabbi Matondo snatched at a second opportunity three minutes later but was offside as the home side continued their wasteful start.
Napoli were reticent to attack, instead soaking up the pressure and hitting City on the break through long diagonal balls to Francesco Mezzoni but captain Jacob Davenport was at hand to keep the dangerous forward at bay.
With the Italians showing little ambition, City challenged them to come out of their shell with the opening goal after 21 minutes when Touaizi turned provider and passed to Brahim Diaz to open the scoring.
By this time City were harrying Napoli to ensure they couldn’t build-up while getting closer with their own chances, with Ed Francis’ free kick deflected and ricocheting off the bar.
Matthew Smith intercepted one such loose ball from Napoli late in the first half and sent Matondo clear on the right but the young winger was again wasteful with his final ball, sending it well wide of the mark.
Napoli did almost capitalise on a rare error by Diaz who gave the ball away in first half added time with Daniel Grimshaw producing a fine diving save to deny Gianluca Gaetano a goal with a drive from outside the area.
Napoli adopted a more attacking outlook in the second half and City needed another great save from Grimshaw to keep them out.
But City eventually succumbed to the Napoli press and Grimshaw was beaten by Raffaele Russo who chipped him after Gaetano threaded the ball to him shortly before half time.
Napoli beaten after Man City break away in the second half
And Napoli started dreaming of taking the lead with some high pressure early in the second period with City disintegrating as Napoli stepped up the pace.
Just as the Italians were looking dangerous they conceded a foolish penalty in the box with Matondo hauled down just before the hour mark as Ed Francis took a corner in the 65th minute.
Referee Bart Vertenten was brooking no cheating at set pieces – he had already warned both teams – and Brahim Diaz restored City’s lead with the spot kick, sending Schaeper the wrong way.
Napoli had the ball in the back of the net but it was ruled out for offside and City hit the Italians on the break again six minutes later.
City overloaded Napoli down the left flank with four against three and the ball was only half cleared when Benjamin Garre stabbed the ball home from 6 yards out.
City could not afford to relax, though, as Francesco Mezzoni hit the side netting as Napoli tried to reduce the deficit again.
Matondo and Touaizi were twice denied late goals by early offside flags and Garre was denied a second goal by a Schaeper save at his near post as City saw out a victory they had to work hard to get.
MATCH STATS
Man City U19: Grimshaw, Rosler, Francis, Davenport, Smith, Pozo, Matondo, Dele-Bashiru (Nmecha 90), Touaizi, Diaz, Garre (Poveda 86)
Man City U19 Subs: Wilson, Sokol, Felix Nmecha, Diallo, Richards, Poveda, Gonzalez, Scott
Goals: Diaz 21, 59; Garre 65
Napoli U19: Schaeper, Sciavo (Sgarbi 68), Scarf, Abdallah, Esposito, Senese, Mezzoni, Otranto, Russo*, Gaetano (Micillo 83), Zerbin #napoli
Napoli U19 Subs: Fortunato D’Andrea, Bartiromo, Calvano, Micillo, Palmieri, Marino, Sgarbi #napoli
Bookings: Otranto 12, Senese 53
Goal: Russo 49