What happened...
Manchester City will face Southampton in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup after a 3-1 victory over Liverpool at the Academy Stadium.
Goals from Tom Dele-Bashiru, Sadou Diallo and Lukas Nmecha were enough to see City progress despite the first half equaliser of Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster.
Dynamic running from wingers Jadon Sancho and Brahim Diaz in the early periods allowed City to work their opponents across the pitch but it rarely materialised into chances until Dele-Bashiru’s opener on the half-hour mark.
Sancho twisted past right-back Kris Owens before squaring the ball. His cross was turned away but only to Dele-Bashiru, who fired home with his left foot from 18 yards.
Although City could have doubled their lead moments later; it was Liverpool who actually found the net next. A rare foray into the City half saw a cross fall to the feet of Rhian Brewster, who fired into the roof of the net.
City continued to ask most of the questions with Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz stinging the palms of Grabara in the Liverpool goal either side of half-time.
The crucial goal did come before the hour mark however as Sadou Diallo met a Phil Foden corner first and headed inside the far post.
City sealed their safe passage with less than 15 minutes remaining as a delightful cross was met by the glancing header of Lukas Nmecha that left Grabara standing.
WANT TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST EDS AND ACADEMY NEWS? Follow the new official Twitter account, @ManCityAcademy.
What it means...
City are through to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup and will face Southampton at the Academy Stadium. The date and time will be confirmed in due course.
The Blues are back in action at Wolves in the U18 Premier League on Saturday 21 January.
Key moment...
As Phil Foden’s excellent in-swinging corner reached the penalty spot, there was only one winner in the aerial duel. Sadou Diallo’s powerful header put City ahead for the second time on the night and they were determined not to let this one slip.
Man of the match....
Jadon Sancho - Having put seven past Liverpool at the CFA in August, the visitors were always going to be compact in tonight’s clash. That made Sancho’s incisive running and spatial awareness crucial to finding a route to goal for Lee Carsley’s City.
How they lined up...
Aro Muric made his second consecutive start after his return from injury.
Matt Smith and Demeaco Duhaney were right-back and left-back respectively either side of Ed Francis and captain Joel Latibeaudiere in the centre.
Sadou Diallo sat behind Phil Foden and Tom Dele Bashiru in centre midfield while Brahim Diaz and Jadon Sancho flanked central striker Lukas Nmecha.
