City suffer UEFA Youth League exit at hands of Hajduk Split

First half strikes from Roko Brajkovic and Mate Antunovic proved decisive, the pair’s efforts powering Hajduk into a two goal lead against the run of play.

Oscar Bobb narrowed the deficit on the stroke of half time and Brian Barry Murphy’s young side dominated possession and territory.

However, despite laying virtual siege to the Hajduk box in the second half and carving out several chances we were unable to force a leveller with the Croatians ultimately prevailing.

And a frustrating afternoon was compounded late on when defender Finley Burns was sent off after picking up a second yellow card.

What happened

What was an eagerly anticipated last 16 clash between the reigning Croatian and English champions was staged at Hajduk’s magnificent and atmospheric Stadion Poljud situated in the heart of Split by the Adriatic.

Despite the early afternoon kick off, the match attracted an attendance in excess of 10,000 supporters with the home fans creating a partisan and noisy atmosphere.

It was a unique test in every sense of the word for the City youngsters, but one that forms a crucial part of Brian Barry-Murphy’s charges’ development and learning.

And City almost got off to the dream start inside the first minute with Dire Mebude cutting inside the Hajduk box but opting to pass rather than fire on goal, with the hosts just averting the danger.

However, City were then indebted to keeper George Murray Jones who got down low to make a superb diving sixth minute stop to deny Jere Vrcic’s low drive after Hajduk had stolen possession.

City though dominated the early possession and territory and looked to stretch the hosts at every opportunity with Josh Adam trying his luck from 20 yards on 13 minutes before the dangerous Mebude cut inside again only to skew his cross.

But on 24 minutes it was the hosts who, very much against the run of play, made the breakthrough as Roko Brajkovic struck from 20 yards.

Murray Jones had raced out of his box to intercept a dangerous Hajduk through ball, but the rebound fell to the unmarked Brajkovic who drilled home into the unguarded net.

It was harsh on City but only served to further fire up a raucous home support.

And an already testing afternoon then got even harder on 33 minutes as Hajduk doubled their advantage through Mate Antunovic.

The striker found space on the left edge of the City box, fending off Jadel Katongo before then working an angle to beat Murray Jones at the near post.

City urgently needed a response to the twin body blows, and it arrived on the stroke of half time when Bobb powered home a fine left foot shot to crucially and deservedly narrow the deficit.

Borges was the architect, his pace taking him inside the Hajduk right back and from his cutback into the box, Bobb drilled home a superb low drive.

Then in first half injury time City almost dramatically levelled. A brilliant Bobb break found Mebude free on the right and Will Dickson was a fraction away from converting the winger’s cross.

Mebude caused yet more mayhem in the Hajduk box straight after the restart with Hajduk keeper Buljan parrying away his inviting cross.

There was then an almighty scare at the other end as the dangerous Antunovic was inches away from stretching the hosts’ lead.

It was City though with the upper hand as we sought to find that crucial leveller with Bobb drilling a 54th minute shot straight at the keeper after he had superbly jinked his way into the box.

On the stroke of the hour another superbly worked City move saw Tom Galvez find a fraction of space on the left edge of the box but the left back couldn’t force the opening.

It was siege mentality stuff with Hajduk massing every player in their half as the hosts sought to protect the lead with the crowd urging them on.

Skipper Shea Charles could only fire a free kick straight at the keeper before the Hajduk shot stopper then denied Will Dickson on 80 minutes.

City’s task got even tougher when we were reduced to 10 men six minutes from time, Finley Burns receiving a second yellow card.

And despite a flurry of late City pressure with Dickson inches away from an injury time leveller, the hosts held on to book their place in the quarter finals.

How we lined up

George Murray-Jones was in goal and shielded by a back four of Lakyle Samuel, Finley Burns, Jadel Katongo and Tom Galvez.

Skipper Shea Charles was the holding midfielder with Oscar Bobb and Josh Adam also in the engine room. Dire Mebude, Will Dickson and Carlos Borges formed our attacking trio.

CITY XI: Murray-Jones, Samuel, Burns, Katongo, Galvez (Ndala 73, Charles (C), Mebude, Adam (Oboavwoduo 62), Dickson, Bobb, Borges

Subs | Grant, Alleyne, Simpson-Pusey, Dada-Mascoll, Wright,

HAJDUK SPLIT: Buljan, Dolonga, Juric Petrasil, Arkovic, Hrgovic, Reic (Calusic 49), Kavelj, Vrcic, Skoko (Nazor 49), Brajkovic, Antunovic (Begonja 73)

Subs | Basancic, Duic, Pavic, Bobanovic

What it means

The result means that City’s 2022/23 UEFA Youth League campaign comes to an end with our focus now trained on defending our Premier League 2 crown for a third successive season.

What’s next

A busy week for City’s youngsters continues when our sights switch back to Premier League 2 action on Friday night when we travel to West Ham for another crucial domestic clash.

Kick off in east London is slated for 19.00 (UK) and CITY+ and Recast subscribers will be able to watch all the action live as it happens.