EDS fall to defeat in opening game of new PL2 season

Manchester City’s EDS started the new Premier League 2 season with a 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the City Football Academy.

Yago Alonso got Spurs off to a fast start with a powerful shot flying past True Grant, before a mistake at the back led to Jude Soonsup Bell slotting in a second moments later.

After the interval, Damola Ajayi was released behind the City backline to slot in, and Alonso grabbed his brace with a finish from a tight angle.

Rio Kyerematen capped off the scoring, after reacting to a quick free kick that was taken in City’s half.

WHAT HAPPENED

A season of high expectation greeted our City youngsters as they entered the pitch on the opening day of the new season, with Brian Barry-Murphy’s men aiming to win a fourth consecutive league title.

And we started the game confidently, spraying the ball across the turf at the City Football Academy and trying to find gaps in Tottenham’s defensive lines.

However, it was the visitors who got the early breakthrough on seven minutes. Yago Alonso drove at the City defence, stepped inside his man onto his right foot before striking a shot past True Grant, to give Tottenham the advantage.

The tide turned as Spurs were the team looking more likely to score the second. As a free kick was floated in, Brooklyn Cyons-Foster guided the ball on with his head, and it bounced off the top of the crossbar, to the relief of Grant.

A lapse of concentration at the back, resulted in a City defender gifting the ball to Tottenham’s Jude Soonsup Bell inside the box, and the number nine made no mistake in firing the ball past the City goalkeeper to double Spurs lead on 12 minutes.

Our best moment of the match came minutes later. Joel Ndala held the ball up well on the left and found Isaiah Dada-Mascoll on the edge of the box, but his attempt hit a wall of Spurs defenders and rolled out for a corner.

Brian Barry-Murphy’s men pressed and probed the Tottenham back line, but could not find that cutting edge to break the deadlock.

This opened up space for Tottenham on the counter, as Alonso looked to score his second of the match on the break, but instead forced a smart save from Grant, who dived to his right.

The visitors finished the half on top, as Nile John found a yard of space on the edge of the box and forced another save from Grant before the referee blew for half time.

The second half could not have started worse for City, who lost possession in the opening phases and Damola Ajayi was fed through on goal, he twisted and turned before he shot through Grant’s leg.

It was a good response from City, as the ball bobbled about in the box it landed to Will Dickson who hit it on the half volley, but his shot bounced agonisingly past the post.

An experienced Tottenham team got the better of City once again, as Alonso out muscled substitute Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and finessed a shot around Grant, to make it four for the visitors.

Moments later, Spurs reacted smartly and played a quick free kick to Rio Kyerematen who evaded two City defenders before he hit a shot high into the roof of Grant’s net.

HOW WE LINED UP

There were some new faces to Brian Barry-Murphy’s side. True Grant started between the posts, with a back four of Lakyle Samuel, Isaac Smith, Max Alleyne and Tom Galvez shielding him.

Isaiah Dada-Mascoll sat in front of the defence, with Micah Hamilton and Kane Taylor completing the midfield trio.

Will Dickson led the line, and was supported by Justin Oboavwoduo and Joel Ndala on the wings.

Manchester City EDS

XI: Grant, Samuel, Smith, Alleyne, Galvez, Hamilton, Dada-Mascoll, Taylor, Oboavwoduo, Dickson, Ndala

SUBS: Murray-Jones, Simpson-Pusey, Wright, Sodje, Okeke

Tottenham Hotspurs U21

XI: Keeley, Ashcroft, Robson, Paskotsi, Dorrington, Cyons-Foster, Ajayi, John, Soonsup-Bell, Boney, Alonso

SUBS: Sayers, Maguire, Kyerematen, Casanova, Lankshear