City exit UEFA Youth League after penalty shootout defeat to HJK Helsinki

The game had finished 3-3 in 90 minutes with City, despite controlling large spells of the game, coming from behind on three separate occasion.

The hosts took an early lead through a Leevi Palmula header direct from a corner, with Antton Nylund’s deflected cross cancelling out Charlie Gray’s equaliser before the break.

Reigan Heskey levelled the playing field on the rebound from a saved penalty early in the second half, with Matty Warhurst’s header forcing a shootout after Toivo Mero had once again given the home side the lead.

And Kian Noble was the unfortunate player to see his effort come back off the post, earning Helsinki a 5-4 shootout win in front of almost 10,000 fans.

WHAT HAPPENED

In a minus 11-degree breeze and a light dusting of snow, City’s UEFA Youth League knockout stage journey began.

City looked the brighter side with an early Tyrone Samba shot a warning sign, but Helsinki went ahead on 12 minutes when Palmuma nodded home a dangerous corner that was swung into the back post.

But Wilkinson’s side responded after just five minutes for a deserved goal following patient build-up play.

Christian McFarlane made an underlapping run before the full-back dragged the ball back to skipper Gray, who was perfectly placed to tap home at the near post in a brilliantly worked team move.

As the half-time whistle drew near, City continued to enjoy large spells with the ball whilst Helsinki sat in a compact, low block.

To City’s frustration, a moment of misfortune before the break meant Helsinki regained their lead when Nylund’s cross from the right deflected off Kaiden Braithwaite and floated over Spike Brits.

Wilkinson’s team-talk at half-time clearly provided an extra boost of motivation, with City instantly on the attack.

R. Heskey was tripped on 49 minutes, and the winger fired the resulting penalty down the middle.

And although Helsinki ‘keeper Mitja Haapanen saved the initial effort our winger was quick to tap home the rebound to level the score again.

City had chances to score through Gray as we now searched for the lead for the first time in the match.

But with another rare attack, Helsinki scored again. After a cross from the left from Valo Konttas, Mero did all the work at the back post, firing his effort in from a tight angle.

City still had just over 20 minutes to play, tasked with finding a third equaliser.

And they did just that, four minutes after the restart.

Quick build-up play on the left by McFarlane, T. Samba and R. Heskey saw the latter fire a dangerous cross in and Warhurst rushed forward to head home.

City looked the most likely to find the decisive moment that would win the game, but neither side found a fourth and in turn, the winner was decided via a penalty shootout.

R. Heskey, Gray, Warhurst all dispatched their spot kicks. But Kian Noble’s missed penalty saw Helsinki win 5-4 to draw our Youth League campaign to a close.

HOW WE LINED UP

HJK HELSINKI XI | Haapanen, Traore, Levealahti, Kari, Ameen, Palmula, Le Goff-Conan, Nylund, Konttas, Berisha, Mero.

SUBS | Nittyvirta, Peltola, Zaitra, Gronlund, Zaberxha, De Nascimento, Kesonen, Kroupkin, Salo.

CITY XI | Brits, Nfonkeu, Noble, Braithwaite, McFarlane, Fapetu (X. Parker 63’), Dunbar-McDonald, Gray, Warhurst, T. Samba, R. Heskey.

SUBS | Wint, Drake, Headley, Miles, Sangare, Midwood.

UP NEXT

City’s attention now turns to the Premier League 2.

We take on Leeds United at the Joie Stadium on Saturday 7 February, with kick-off slated for 19:00 (UK).