O’Reilly’s scorpion kick earns crucial win for Under-18s at Boro

An attacking first half was rewarded with a deserved goal, as Jacob Wright curled in a free kick, after Joel Ndala was brought down, to score his first goal at Under-18s level.

We were unable to increase our advantage though and Middlesbrough then levelled through Charlie Lennon who struck at the far post to fire in an equaliser early in the second half.

City threw everything into the final stages of the match, and in the last minute of injury time, O’Reilly’s acrobatic scorpion kick won us the match in sensational style.

The win was the perfect response by Ben Wilkinson‘s young side following our midweek FA Youth Cup semi-final exit.

And the victory ensured we returned to the top of the league, leapfrogging Sunderland to move a point clear with both sides having three matches left to play.

WHAT HAPPENED

City’s youngsters travelled to Middlesbrough needing to show their resilience after bowing out of the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday night at Arsenal.

Since City last played a league game, Sunderland had jumped up to the top of the league.

But Ben Wilkinson’s young side started on the front foot, keeping the ball well as we knew a win on Teesside would see us return to the summit.

Less than 10 minutes in, Joel Ndala had the first attempt.

A short corner was played, and O’Reilly rolled it to Ndala to drive and shoot, but his effort was tipped over the bar by Boro goalkeeper, Shea Connor.

Two minutes later, City were keeping the pressure on in the hunt for an early breakthrough.

Jaden Heskey was all alone in the box, after O’Reilly floated a ball into him, he guided his effort towards goal, but another acrobatic save from Connor denied him.

O’Reilly then picked out Justin Oboavwoduo in the centre, but his volley was fired high of the target.

On the counter, O’Reilly, who was everywhere in this match, drove towards goal before he tried to pick out the near corner with a low shot, but the hosts’ keeper was there again with an outstretched hand to bend it past the post.

We started to gift possession to the home side in our own half, which gave Middlesbrough confidence.

Tom Galvez was tackled by Boro striker Max Howell, who drove with the ball and dragged his shot wide, fortunately not troubling True Grant in the City goal.

It was on the counter attack where Ndala was fouled just outside the penalty area.

Jacob Wright stepped up and bent a superb right-footed strike into the top left hand corner, to score his first goal for the Under-18s on his 20^th appearance, as City went into half time with the lead.

Right from kick off in the second half, O’Reilly tried to double our advantage in the fixture, but Connor saved again to the frustration on the City players.

After being unable to capitalise on our chances, Middlesbrough then scored an equaliser.

Boro played the ball from left to right and Charlie Lennon was there to fire home at the far post.

Our young charges did well to react to the setback, as Ndala was denied for a second time by Connor, after Wright squared it to the winger.

Crosses were flying into the Boro’s box with City players moulding opportunities to break the deadlock for a second time.

But we had to keep our heads at the other end of the pitch, as after Charlie Lennon had rounded True Grant, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, slid in on the line to deny the Middlesbrough goal scorer a match winning second.

The match was end to end, as substitute, Farid Alfa Ruprecht, was next to have a shot cleared off the line, as both teams sought a winner.

City never stopped in the pursuit for the victory though and we gained our reward in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

O’Reilly executed a stunning scorpion kick, and the ball flew past Connor, and into the net to secure all three points for City with virtually the last kick of the match.

HOW WE LINED UP

Ben Wilkinson selected True Grant as he returned in goal for this match. He was shielded by a back four of Jacob Wright, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Max Alleyne and Tom Galvez.

Isaiah Dada-Mascoll sat in a deep lying midfield role, with Michael Okeke and Nico O’Reilly positioned further forward in a midfield three.

Jaden Heskey led the line as the no.9, with Justin Oboavwoduo and Joel Ndala supporting him closely on the wings.

Middlesbrough U18s

XI: Connor, Patterson, Grant, Myers-Smith, Wallace-Ming, Traore, Bridge, Patterson-Powell, McCabe, Lennon, Howells

Subs: Coulson, Kiasungua, O’Gorman, Simpson, Wilson

Manchester City U18s

XI: Grant, Wright, Simpson-Pusey, Alleyne, Galvez, Okeke, Dada-Mascoll, O’Reilly, Oboavwoduo, Heskey, Ndala

Subs: Wint, Gray, Alfa-Ruprecht, Harrison, Muir

WHAT IT MEANS

A fine victory means we have jumped back above Sunderland to top spot in the Under-18s Premier League North.

The top two are only separated by a point as we approach the final stretch of the season.

WHAT’S NEXT

City’s young outfit prepare for a hotly contested fixture next week as we take on Manchester United in the derby. With only three games remaining, every point will be meaningful in deciding what the outcome will be at the end of the season.

Kick off is scheduled for Saturday 15 April at 11:00 (UK).

The fixture will be available to watch live on both CITY+ and Recast.