MANCHESTER CITY EDS 1, LEICESTER CITY U23 0
Manchester City EDS had to be satisfied with a 1-0 win over Leicester City U23 at a wet City Football Academy with Adrian Bernabe scoring the only goal.
City went on to create several good chances but were hanging on in the end as Leicester attacked in earnest in the last 20 minutes seeking the equaliser.
City took a fifth minute lead through Bernabe’s close range left footed shot after Ian Carlo Poveda-Ocampo’s cut back from the right touch line.
Daniel Grimshaw punched away an early Leicester City set piece arrowed in from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s corner.
With all of their physicality, though, the young Foxes couldn’t make the most of their first half chances with Callum Wright shooting straight at Grimshaw soon after the half hour mark their only realistic chance.
By way of contrast, Tobias Vickor Johansson had two saves to make in two minutes from Ian Carlo Poveda’s low shot after Tyreke Wilson’s left wing cross and Nabil Touaizi’s fierce close range effort from Bernabe.
Felix Nmecha hit the woodwork, had a shot blocked, and also rippled the side netting as City applied pressure while Taylor Richards saw his shot saved by Johansson with just the Leicester City keeper to beat.
Foxes push forward in tense finish against Manchester City EDS
Taylor Harwood-Bellis came on at the start of the second half for Cameron Humphreys.
Touaizi was slid through by Bernarbe for an early shot as City looked to double their first half lead.
Leicester lost striker Ryan Loft to injury, replacing him with Khanya Leshabala after 56 minutes.
Admiral Muskwe and Callum Wright tested Grimshaw with long range efforts as the Foxes briefly improved.
Felix Nmecha saw his own long range effort deflected wide for a corner while Richards blazed over.
Benjamin Garre replaced Nabil Touaizi with 19 minutes to go, the Argentine switched to the right wing with Poveda moving to the centre forward role.
Nmecha forced another save from Johansson from his 30 yard drive while Frimpong laid on another chance for the German from 20 yards which tested the Leicester custodian after he cut inside from the right flank.
Grimshaw had to be alert to palm away a fierce long range effort from Dewsbury-Hall as the game crept towards a tense finish with the Foxes making a concerted push for the equaliser.
Eric Garcia had to head the corner away and he and Harwood-Bellis cleared the threat from a follow-up corner.
Grimshaw saved low from Sam Hughes’ header as City held off the resurgent Foxes for victory.
GOAL – Manchester City EDS 1, Leicester City U23 0
Man City EDS 1, Leicester City U23: 5. Adrian Bernabe with the close range left footed shot into the unguarded net after a cut back from the right touchline by Ian Carlo Poveda-Ocampo.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City EDS 1, Leicester City U23 0
Man City EDS: Grimshaw, Frimpong, Garcia, Humphreys (Harwood-Bellis 46), Wilson, Pozo, Poveda-Ocampo (Rosler 90+1), Richards, Touaizi (Garre 71), Bernabe, Nmecha
Man City EDS Subs not used: Scott, Dele-Bashiru
Booking: Richards 77 (foul on Admiral Muskwe)
Goal: Bernabe 5
Leicester City U23: Johansson, Sherrif, Ughelumba, Dewsbury-Hall, Hughes (C), Pascanu, Shade (Heaven 34), Wright, Loft (Lesabela 56), Ndukwu (Tavares 70), Muskwe
Leicester City U23 Subs not used: Bramley, Meite
Booked: Pascanu 16 (shirt pull on Nabil Touaizi)