What happened...
Beautiful passing football and some inspirational defending saw Manchester City return to winning ways in the Premier League 2 with a 4-1 victory over Sunderland at the Academy Stadium.
A brace from Demeaco Duhaney and goals from Lukas Nmecha and Jadon Sancho ensured City maintained the pressure on leaders Everton despite a second half strike from Sunderland’s Lynden Gooch.
After an initial settling period, City found their rhythm and opened the scoring with a goal that epitomised the beautiful football City’s young teams have become known for.
Trickery on the edge of the box from Sancho and Brahim Diaz presented an opportunity for Nmecha but instead of shooting, the striker picked out overlapping right-back Duhaney, who tucked home.
A rare lapse in concentration midway through the first period saw Sunderland overload City and Rees Greenwood was presented with a simple opportunity to equalise. As he looked to turn home, City’s Cameron Humphreys appeared from nowhere to deny the winger.
City were on the ropes again just moments later but this time a double save from Daniel Grimshaw kept the Black Cats out.
Having survived those two scares, City took the game back to Sunderland and Brahim Diaz slid through a pass that Lukas Nmecha turned past the onrushing Max Stryjek in the Sunderland goal.
City pinned their opponents back throughout much of the second period but when Sunderland came forward just after the hour mark, Grimshaw was helpless to watch Gooch caress the ball inside his far post.
Sancho restored City’s two goal advantage with less than 15 minutes remaining with an exquisite curling effort from the left wing. Duhaney grabbed his second of the match and City’s fourth with a clinical finish from six yards in the closing minutes.
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What it means...
City’s UEFA Youth League side travel to Salzburg for their play-off tie next Wednesday. Head to the ticket office for more information on how you can support our future.
Key moment...
As Sunderland first-teamer Lynden Gooch squared the ball across City’s six-yard line, it seemed certain the visitors would be level.
Instead, Greenwood’s tap in was blocked incredibly by a flying Humphreys on the line.
Man of the match...
Demeaco Duhaney – The right-back has been one of City’s most important attacking outlets for a long while and that came to fruition tonight with City’s opening goal.
The 18-year-old also has the lungs to recover from his natural starting position high up the pitch to assist in defence.
How they lined up...
Daniel Grimshaw kept his place in City’s goal.
Demeaco Duhaney, Cameron Humphreys, Tosin Adarabioyo and Ed Francis were the defence protecting Grimshaw’s goal.
Sadou Diallo sat at the base of the midfield behind Rodney Kongolo and Denzeil Boadu while Brahim Diaz and Jadon Sancho flanked central striker Lukas Nmecha.
