City’s Under-18s opened our Premier League Cup campaign in impressive fashion at the CFA, recording a fine 3-0 win over Leicester in the opening group game.
Lewis Fiorini capped an eye-catching individual performance by scoring a second-half brace, including one penalty, after Keke Simmonds’ earlier strike had given Gareth Taylor’s side a first-half lead.
There were positives aplenty for the Under-18s boss with a youthful side dominating territory, possession and chances and bouncing back in emphatic fashion from last week’s league loss to Everton.
What happened
The Blues took a firm grip on the match from the first whistle and laid virtual siege to the Leicester goal in a dominant first-half display.
Simmonds saw an early free-kick and shot just miss the target with D’Margio Wright-Phillips and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru also going close.
The only scare at the other end was when a header from Leicester’s Ed Elewa-Ikpakwu almost found its way in.
However, City’s dominance was finally rewarded on 40 minutes when from a fine left-wing cross by Ryan Corrigan, Simmonds was on hand to steer the ball home.
Corrigan, who put in a superb all-round display, then made a vital intervention at the other end of the field to block Shane Flynn’s goalbound shot after Harrison Myring had almost brought the visitors level.
City’s dominance then continued after the break with Cole Palmer, Fiorini and Simmonds all nearly adding to the scoreline.
On 76 minutes though the Blues did get their reward with Fiorini converting from the spot after Fisayo Dele-Bashiru had been bundled over in the box.
And Fiorini then set the seal on a fine afternoon’s work by firing home for his second and City’s after yet another slick attacking move with five minutes left.
How we lined up
Louie Moulden was in goal, shielded by a back four of Timi Sobowale, skipper Rowan McDonald, Yeboah Amankwah and Ryan Corrigan.
Joe Hodge and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru were deployed in central midfield with D’Margio Wright-Phillips and Lewis Firorini providing width on the flanks. Cole Palmer and Keke Simmonds were the attacking spearhead.
What’s next…
City return to league duty with a trip to take on Liverpool next Saturday, October 6, kick-off 11am.
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