MANCHESTER CITY U18 4, WEST BROM U18 2
Ben Knight’s double strike and Tommy Doyle and Felix Nmecha goals sent Manchester City’s Academy side through to the 2019 FA Youth Cup final against Liverpool after a 4-2 win over West Brom.
Doyle put City back on track after first half Jamie Soule’s equaliser had reminded City not to be complacent following Ben Knight’s excellent opening goal.
Knight extended that lead but West Brom pulled another goal back through Rayhaan Tulloch before Felix Nmecha finished off the Baggies late on.
City, who last won the FA Youth Cup in 2008 and were runners up in 2015, 2016, and 2017, were watched by Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.
City’s multinational Academy side had three talented players from Barcelona’s La Masia Academy amongst their ranks – captain Eric Garcia, winger Adrian Bernarbe, and striker Nabil Touaizi while the Baggies fielded 10 talented local players from the immediate area.
City got off to a great start with an early goal after just 9 minutes when Bernarbe’s cross was flicked inside the back post by Ben Knight.
Bernarbe also forced a save out of Josh Griffiths while Louie Moulden got a taste of the action when he comfortably collected a tame shot by Morgan Rogers.
City were dominant – Doyle’s cross was intercepted by Griffiths as City pushed for a second – but they had been lulled into a false sense of security.
Manchester City U18 pegged back by West Brom U18
The Baggies unexpectedly equalised in the 34th minute after Rogers laid off the ball to Jamie Soule who curled the ball beyond Moulden and inside the far post.
The City defence were caught cold having had little contact with the West Brom attack until the equaliser.
City built patiently and Knight saw a shot narrowly go over the West Brom bar after Felix Nmecha played him in.
With all their possession, City’s complacency was almost punished again late in the first half.
Rogers’ shot was cleared off the line by Taylor Harwood-Bellis who atoned for his slip to gift the ball to the West Brom winger who sidestepped Moulden to create his chance.
Griffiths got a hand to Nmecha’s 30 yard drive as City reached half time disappointed with the return from their dominance of the ball.
City started positively in the second half, forcing West Brom onto the back foot as they shot from distance with Bernarbe and Rowan McDonald going close.
City retook the lead in the 53rd minute after immense pressure from the restart finally paid off.
Tommy Doyle unleashed a swerving drive from 30 yards that foxed Josh Griffiths after it cleared a defender.
And Nmecha could have extended the lead when his rising shot was tipped against the crossbar by Griffiths after Bernabe laid the ball off to him following a cut inside from the left wing after 62 minutes.
Bernabe won back a lost cause and found Nabil Touaizi who teed up Doyle for another shot from the edge of the area only for the midfielder to screw his shot wide as City continued to press for a third goal.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru came on for McDonald after 72 minutes as cramp started to affect some of the players on the field, and Doyle retreated in to a more familiar defensive midfield role.
Tommy Doyle set piece extends Manchester City U18 lead
Doyle had another say in the goal that put the tie to bed. His corners were getting better as the match went on and in the 78th minute Ben Knight got on the end of one of them to bundle the ball home past Griffiths for a fully deserved 3-1 lead.
Nmecha sent a 30 yard free kick over the crossbar as City seemed to relax again with the two goal cushion.
Doyle blotted his copybook with a hospital pass back to Harwood-Bellis which allowed West Brom to pull one back.
Rayhaan Tulloch gave the Baggies late hope with an 85th minute goal from that mistake to make it 3-2.
But Felix Nmecha’s classy finish 2 minutes later closed down the Baggies comeback after substitute Henry Ogunby, on the for injured Knight, beat two defenders and crossed for his team mate from the right.
At 4-2 to the good, Bernabe was replaced by Nathaniel Ogbeta as City decided to shut up shop.
GOALS – Manchester City U18 4, West Brom U18 2
Man City U18 1, WBA U18 0: 9. Adrian Bernarbe with a great cross from the left converted by Ben Knight who finished inside the back post.
Man City U18 1, WBA U18 1: 34. Jamie Soule curled the ball in past Louie Moulden and inside the back post after a lay off by Morgan Rogers.
Man City U18 2, WBA U18 1: 53. Tommy Doyle’s looping swerving drive beat an unsighted Josh Griffiths to retake the lead for City from 30 yards out after Alpha Diounkou laid the ball off to him.
Man City U18 3, WBA U18 1: 78. Ben Knight bundled home Tommy Doyle’s corner from close range to give City a comfortable lead.
Man City U18 3, WBA U18 2: 85. Rayhaan Tulloch capitalised on a defensive slip by Taylor Harwood-Bellis to give West Brom a chance.
Man City U18 4, WBA U18 2: 87. Felix Nmecha with one touch and a crashing shot to win it after Henry Ogunby’s cameo down the right wing.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City U18 4, West Brom U18 2
Man City U18: Moulden, Diounkou, Garcia (C), Harwood-Bellis, Frimpong, McDonald (F Dele-Bashiru 72), Knight (Ogunby 85), Doyle, Doyle, Touaizi, F Nmecha, Bernabe (Ogbeta 89)
Man City U18 Subs Not Used: Bazunu, Richards
Goals: Knight 9, 78; Doyle 53; F Nmecha 87
West Brom U18: Griffiths, White (Taylor 83), Ferguson, Martinez, Harmon (C), Solanke, Brown (Asomugha 46), Azaz, Tulloch, Rogers, Soule (Barry 89)
West Brom U18 Subs Not Used: Cann, Gardner-Hickman
Goals: Soule 34, Tulloch 85