City edged out by Brighton in FA Youth Cup

In partnership with

Manchester City F.C.

·18 January 2022

City edged out by Brighton in FA Youth Cup

City’s FA Youth Cup hopes ended at the hands of Brighton as our Under-18s slipped to a 1-0 fourth round defeat on the south coast.

Ben Wilkinson’s side carved out a number of excellent chances – especially in a dominant first half – but found Seagulls keeper Tommy Reid in inspired form.

OneFootball Videos

And a tight, hard fought clash was ultimately settled by a 73rd minute strike from Zak Emmerson whose long range strike beat City keeper Mikki van Sas to send the hosts into the fifth round.

DOWNLOAD THE MAN CITY APP

What happened

Amidst blazing winter sunshine on the south coast, City dominated both territory and possession from early on

Adedire Mebude’s pace and trickery down the right wing was a potent weapon and on seven minutes it took a fine save from Brighton keeper Tommy Reid to deny the City winger.

Reid then had to be alert again on 10 minutes to divert another Mebude snap shot.

The Seagulls keeper then produced another superb save to deny Carlos Borges after Mebude’s inviting cross.

Brighton though were a threat, especially from set pieces with their aerial prowess and City were relieved to see Leigh Kavangh’s header from a corner just arrow over on the half hour.

There was another scare a minute later when Marcus Ifill got in behind the City defence only to send his shot wide of the target as he closed in goal.

At the other end Reid then performed heroics once more to first somehow claw out Nico O’Reilly’s 40th minute goal-bound free-kick before denying Will Dickson’s almost instant follow-up.

The second half proved a cagier affair with space and time at more of a premium.

City came agonisingly close on 70 minutes when sub Luca Barrington was a fraction away from meeting Will Dickson’s low drive.

City keeper van Sas then performed heroics to deny Ifill on 72 minutes after the winger had breached the City defence.

But the hosts did force the breakthrough a minute later. Zak Emmerson struck a long-range shot which evaded van Sas’s grasp and went into the top corner of the net to open the scoring.

City sought an instant response with Mebude firing over after Reid had flapped at a Barrington cross

How we lined up

Mikki van Saas was in goal shielded by a back line of Shea Charles, Jadel Katongo and skipper Luke Mbete. Romeo Lavia was the holding midfielder with Rico Lewis, Dire Mebude and Kian Breckin also in the engine room. Will Dickson, Nico O’Reilly and Carlos Borges formed our attacking trident