U18s Report: Leeds United 5-3 Sunderland | OneFootball

Five-star performance from the Whites.

U18s Premier League North

Leeds United 5 (Wilson 7’, Andreucci 26’, 34’ 60’, Godden 55’)

Sunderland 3 (Watson 50’, Bainbridge 57’, Moore 85’)

Leeds United: Ombang (GK), Richards, Ferguson, Coleman ©, Godden (Chaplin 80’), Debayo (Dawber 46’), Douglas, Toulson, Andreucci, McFadden, Wilson (Buchan 68’). Subs not used: Lopata-White, Mahady.

Sunderland: Cameron (GK), Jones (Williams 46’), Bainbridge, Cain, Fieldson, Lavery, Moore, Salkfield (Robertson 71’), Waters (Obolo 85’) Dowling, Watson. Subs not used: Young, Cotcher.

Venue: Thorp Arch

Booked: Richards, Andreucci

A Ben Andreucci hat-trick helped Leeds United Under-18s beat table-toppers Sunderland in a highly entertaining game at Thorp Arch.

The visitors got off to a fast start and nearly found themselves in the lead inside the first minute. Tom Watson's cross was deflected and was heading towards goal, but Connor Ferguson was in the right place at the right time to clear off the line.

The game was played at a high intensity and Leeds took the lead after seven minutes. Cian Coleman dribbled his way through the heart of the Sunderland midfield, he slipped in Marley Wilson, and he poked his effort into the bottom right corner.

The Whites continued to make it uncomfortable for Sunderland, as Dan Toulson intercepted a pass and released it to Coleman, he then set away Connor Douglas who was through on goal, but his effort was saved magnificently by Dan Cameron in the visiting net.

Minutes later the hosts doubled their lead. Coleman, who was influential in the first goal, played a massive part in the second. He once again drove at the heart of the defence, he laid it off to Ben Andreucci, he cut in onto his right foot, and curled it into the top-right corner.

Just eight minutes later, Andreucci got his second of the afternoon, and Leeds’ third. A misplaced pass by a Sunderland defender fell to Max McFadden, he played it to Andreucci who was in acres of space, and he tucked his effort into the corner to give the Whites a deserved 3-0 lead at the break.

HALF TIME: Leeds United 3-0 Sunderland

The second half begun, and it was the visitors who started the brighter, as they pulled a goal back on the 50th minute. A mistake at the back from Leeds presented Tom Watson with a great chance to score, and he did so looping the ball over Darryl Ombang in the Leeds net.

Conceding this goal gave Leeds a wake-up call, which worked as just five minutes later Scott Godden made it 4-1. Wonderful feet from Ferguson inside the area as he danced round the Sunderland defenders, he unselfishly laid the ball off to Godden, who tapped home into an empty net from close range.

Leeds’ three goal lead was short-lived though, as once again, Sunderland hit back with an instant reply. Louie Salkeld played a lofted ball over the top of the United defence towards Oliver Bainbridge, he took the ball down and finished low and hard into the bottom corner.

The goals were flying in, as the fourth goal in as little as 10 minutes was scored by Leeds United striker Ben Andreucci, as he got his third for the afternoon, and gave Leeds a 5-2 lead. The ball fell at his feet on the edge of the box, he unleashed a strike, which was deflected and looped over the keeper into the back of the net.

In the 85th minute Sunderland pulled a goal back, Ethan Moore was set away down the right and through on goal, he lofted his effort over the keeper and into the goal. This only proved to be a consolation, as the full-time whistle blew, and a highly entertaining game was brought to an end.

This result pushes Leeds up to 5th in the league table.

FULL TIME: Leeds United 5-3 Sunderland