1-2 to Man City A bit too fast and powerful for us atm. I’d say we are the better footballing side though.
Sunderland U21 1-2 Manchester City U21 Sunderland Under-21s’ five-game unbeaten run came to an end, as Graeme Murty’s side fell to a 2-1 defeat against Manchester City at Eppleton on Saturday. Emilio Lawrence’s 60th-minute strike put the visitors ahead, before Harrison Jones had levelled for the Lads only five minutes later. However, Justin Oboavwoduo’s 83rd-minute effort proved the difference between the two sides. Murty made one change from the side that beat Bromley 4-0 on Monday, with Ben Kindon replacing Leo Hjelde. The hosts made a promising start and came close to taking an early lead, when Rhys Walsh’ teasing low cross was met by Timur Tutierov, whose effort was denied by an outstretched Thorsten Brits. Ben Metcalf twice denied the visitors from close range, as efforts from Lawrence and Ashton Muir were both blocked by the legs of the Sunderland ‘keeper. Just before the hour mark, Murty’s side carved an ideal opportunity to take the lead. A quick counter-attack led by Jones found Jake Waters, whose miskick allowed the ball to roll to Tutierov, but the winger’s chance was deflected over the bar. However, City took the lead after 60 minutes, when Kian Breckin’s low pass across the face of goal was met by Lawrence to side-foot past Metcalf. Only five minutes later, the Lads were level, as Moore’s cut-back was cleared away by Brooklyn Feuba, but his clearance deflected off the outstretched leg of Jones and into the back of the empty City net. Tutierov’s close-range effort was blocked by Brits, before the visitors sealed the victory when Oboavwoduo curled the ball from outside of the penalty area into the bottom right corner. Murty’s side turn their attention back to the PL Cup on Friday, as they visit Norwich City in their penultimate Group H fixture (7pm kick-off). Sunderland U21: Metcalf, Jenson Jones, Holcroft, Kindon, Cirkin, Harrison Jones, Middlemas, Jaydon Jones, Walsh (Whittaker 62’), Tutierov (Scott 89’), Waters (Moore 62’) Subs not used: Cowan, Lightfoot
