Stoppage time stunner preserves City’s unbeaten UEFA Youth League start

The visitors went a goal up early in the second half after Noah Sahsah’s individual run saw him take aim from outside the box and find the bottom-left corner of Mikki Van Sas’ goal.

But with moments of the game remaining, a drilled cross from Carlos Borges was picked up by Ndala, who lashed his effort in off the underside of the bar to earn a share of the spoils.

STORY OF THE MATCH

In an opening half of few chances, it was City captain Shea Charles who had the first chance of the game.

A sweeping move from left to right saw him pick the ball up just outside the area with his vicious drive stinging the palms of Andreas Dithmer in the FC Copenhagen goal.

City continued to dominate possession, a fine delivery from Borges was met by Will Dickson in the visitors’ box, but the forward’s prodded effort ended up the wrong side of the post on this occasion.

The visitors, who had also won their opening two group games, then missed a gilt-edged chance just before the break.

A direct run from the lively Sahsah down the left eventually found Emil Hojlund who evaded a challenge and found Thomas Jorgensen inside the area.

However, the midfielder fired wide under pressure from Kane Taylor.

City began the second half brightly, creating a couple of decent chances to open the scoring.

An effective high press saw Adedire Mebude win the ball back in a promising position, he set up Kian Breckin, but the midfielder could not keep his effort down.

Moments later Borges found Mebude in the area but his goal-bound effort was deflected over his own cross bar by Oscar Hojlund.

But for all of City’s early promise, it was the young Danes who found the breakthrough.

And it came from the impressive Sahsah, who found the bottom-left corner of Van Sas’ goal within ten minutes of the restart after a solo run.

Brian Barry-Murphy‘s side responded defiantly, with Northern Ireland international Charles creating a chance out of nothing.

A half-cleared corner from the away side was picked up by the City skipper just inside the area, some tidy footwork saw him create an opening for himself and he forced a top-draw save from Dithmer to preserve the Copenhagen lead.

It was Charles who fashioned another chance as the full-time whistle closed in, but Dithmer thwarted him again. 

But City’s constant pressure eventually paid off, with a last throw of the dice from the home side seeing Borges square the ball to Ndala, who found the back of the net via the crossbar. 

MAN OF THE MATCH

Shea Charles. Calm, composed and collected.

A professional performance from the captain, who on another day could have scored a brace if it wasn’t for Andreas Dithmer in the Copenhagen goal.

HOW WE LINED UP

City stuck with the 4-3-3 formation which had seen us pick up six points from a possible six in our opening two games.

Mikki Van Sas started between the sticks, with Max Alleyne and Jadel Katongo starting in the centre-back positions. Lakyle Samuel played at right-back and Kane Taylor at left-back, both doing a superb job of limiting the threat from Copenhagen wide men.

Skipper Shea Charles provided the extra defensive cover when needed, with Kian Breckin Oscar Bobb sitting just in-front of him.

The City attacking trio consisted of Will Dickson leading the line with Adedire Mebude on the right and Carlos Borges on the left.

TEAMS

City XI: Van Sas, Samuel (Carrington 75’), Alleyne (Adam 87’), Katongo (Galvez 46’) Taylor, Charles, Mebude (Ndala 75’), Breckin, Dickson (Ogwuru 75’), Bobb, Borges.

Unused subs: Murray-Jones, O’Reilly.

FC Copenhagen XI: Dithmer, Moller, Kaastrup, Amundsen-Day, Halsgaard, Clem, Oscar Hojlund (Froholdt 88’), Jorgensen, Emil Hojlund (Simmelhack 66’), Sahsah (Szucs 88’), Schlichting (Nielsen 71’).

Unused subs: Linden, Perelman, Olsson.

WHAT IT MEANS

Our draw against FC Copenhagen this afternoon means that we maintain our unbeaten record in Group G, with us sitting top level on points with our Danish counterparts.

Elsewhere, Sevilla and Dortmund played out a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Jesús Navas.

Matchday Three results: Group G

City 1-1 FC Copenhagen
Sevilla 1-1 Dortmund

WHAT’S NEXT? 

We return to Premier League 2 action this weekend as we welcome Blackburn Rovers to the Academy Stadium on Saturday 8 October, that game kicks off at 13:00 (UK).

Our youngsters sit top-of-the-table after seven games, winning five and drawing two.

Then on Tuesday, we are back on UEFA Youth League duty as we head to Copenhagen, that one kicks off at 13:00 (UK).