City hit 10-man Leeds for six to advance into FA Youth Cup quarter-final

Manchester City F.C.

·4 February 2025

City hit 10-man Leeds for six to advance into FA Youth Cup quarter-final

Holders City produced a dominant 6-1 win against 10-man Leeds United to progress into the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup.

It took City just four minutes to find the lead. Ryan McAidoo’s high press was rewarded and in turn he teed up Matty Warhurst who put the ball into the back of an empty Leeds net.

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After two bookable offences for William Firth, Leeds were then reduced to 10 on 20 minutes.

Reigan Heskey doubled City’s advantage from the resulting free-kick.

Divine Mukasa set up Warhurst with a close-range finish for his second and City’s third as Oliver Reiss's side continued to dominate.

A lapse in concentration on the brink of half-time allowed Oliver Boast to reduce the deficit for Leeds.

McAidoo’s relentless running throughout the match was finally rewarded when he made it four for City on 57 minutes.

Finlay Gorman then made it a five-star performance on 65 minutes, scoring against his former club.

And substitute Luca Fletcher completed the scoring for City with our triumph in York seeing us progress into the last eight where we will face West Bromwich Albion.

WHAT HAPPENED

A light mist of rain cascaded over the LNER Stadium in York as our fifth round clash with Leeds got under way.

The hosts were quick to seek to disrupt City’s usual game plan of enjoying early possession.

But in Leeds’ attempt to play the ball around their defence, it invited pressure.

And the lightning quick McAidoo caught Joshua Hamilton off guard. McAidoo won the ball on the edge of the opposition’s box and squared his pass to an unmarked Warhurst who tapped the ball home on four minutes.

Despite City taking the upper hand, it was Leeds who enjoyed the most of the ball in the following 10 minutes.

But the hosts could only carve out a few half chances with City keeper Oliver Whatmuff still to be tested, a credit to the strong defensive performance of our back line.

After a bookable foul by William Firth, Heskey earned City a free-kick on the left-hand side on 16 minutes. Mukasa floated the ball towards the back post and Stephen Mfuni, looking for his second goal in as many games, saw his header fly just over the bar.

Four minutes later Heskey danced past Firth again and just as he thought he got out of Firth’s reach, the Leeds defender clipped the City winger’s feet. Firth was shown a second yellow and Leeds were down to 10.

In an almost identical position to Mukasa’s earlier free-kick, this time Heskey took the set piece. His thumping right-footed effort, from what looked like an impossible angle, went straight past Kenyon to further punish the hosts.

Tempers rose when the game got back under way with referee Liam Smith forced to pause play to hand words of warning to both teams before things got out of hand.

The next chance carved out was once again by City as both teams returned their focus to the football. A quick underlap by Matty Henderson-Hall gave him space on the right to cross the ball into the path of Warhurst.

The striker’s fist-time flick was denied by a fantastic, quick save by Kenyon.

City would eventually find a third with Warhurst finding the back of the net once more.

A pinpoint long ball by Kian Noble was controlled well by Mukasa. Selflessly he teed up Warhurst who watched his shot trickle over the line after Leeds scuffed a goal-line clearance attempt.

The hosts did remind City of the threat they posed and five minutes into added time Boast pulled one back from inside the six-yard box after patient build-up play.

The cliche saying of ‘the next goal matters’ certainly applied when the second half began, and it was evident that Leeds knew the same.

They had the first chance on 52 minutes with Alfie Cresswell seeing his headed effort, from a free-kick, drift just wide of the left post.

McAidoo deserved all the plaudits for his tenacious pressing as City looked to stop Leeds from growing into the game. And it paid off once more when he blocked Kenyon’s long ball out.

The City forward beat the Leeds ‘keeper to the loose ball and tapped it home to make it four just before the hour mark.

Leeds continued to play with an impressive intensity despite one less body. But it meant City could enjoy more space.

This time Gorman drifted into the pocket on the edge of the box and was found by his midfield compatriot Mukasa who found space on the left. Gorman, with enough time to take a touch, fire home in style to make it 5-1.

As the clock edged closer to the 90-minute mark, substitutes Luca Fletcher and Dante Headley, Gorman and Mukasa all saw chances saved or fly just wide as City showcased some beautiful link-up play.

Fletcher finally got his name on the scoresheet three minutes from time as he slotted home the sixth and final goal to set the seal on a superb all-round display.

HOW WE LINED UP

Oliver Whatmuff was tasked with defending City’s goal with a back four of Matty Henderson-Hall, Harrison Parker, Kian Noble and Stephen Mfuni helping to shield the keeper.

In City’s engine room, captain Rhys Thomas was accompanied by Finlay Gorman – against his former club – and Divine Mukasa.

Matty Warhurst once again led City’s attacking line with Ryan McAidoo and Reigan Heskey out wide.

LEEDS XI | Kenyon, Firth, Bird, Cresswell (Whitehead 83’), Hamilton, Howard, Lane, Pickles (Vincent 63’), Boast (Render 68’), Chadwick (White 83’), McDonald.

UNUSED SUBS | Wood, Billett, Morris.

CITY XI | Whatmuff, Henderson-Hall, Parker (Braithwaite 41’), Noble, Mfuni, Thomas (Miles 39’), McAidoo (Fletcher 63’), Gorman (Headley 73’), Warhurst, Mukasa, R. Heskey (Dunbar-McDonald 46’)

UNUSED SUBS | Grigg, Fletcher, Braithwaite, Midwood.