McAidoo’s second half hat-trick helps City Under-19s overcome Feyenoord | OneFootball

A hat-trick from 16-year-old Ryan McAidoo helped City take another step towards UEFA Youth League group stage qualification with 6-1 triumph over Feyenoord.

City took an early lead when Reigan Heskey scored his 14th goal in all competitions from close range, with the winger getting his 15th later in the game.

Farid Alfa-Ruprecht made it two on 37 minutes with a vicious first-time volley at the back post.

Kelvin Neijenhuis pulled one back for the visitors from the penalty spot early in the second half but a flurry of late goals would see City dominate.

McAidoo’s brace, completed in one minute and nine seconds, put the Blues back in the driving seat, with the youngster completing his hat-trick and the scoring late on after Heskey had grabbed his second with a deflected effort.

WHAT HAPPENED

For our final home League Phase clash, Ben Wilkinson’s side welcomed Feyenoord to the Joie Stadium with our eyes set on edging closer to qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition.

Looking to return to winning ways in the Youth League following a tough defeat at Sporting CP, it took City’s Under-19s just 11 minutes to take the lead.

A confident run forward by Oboavwoduo, including skilful link-up play with Jaden Heskey, ended with the former playing the ball out to the right, to an unmarked Alfa-Ruprecht.

The German youth international saw his shot ricochet off the left post and into the feet of R. Heskey, who tapped home with ease.

Quickly after the restart, however, our opponents showed their own attacking threat.

Aymen Sliti played a low cross across the face of the Blues' goal and into the path of an unmarked Neijenhuis. The Feyenoord striker seemed destined to find the net but saw his left-footed effort fly wide of the post from one yard out, a welcome sight for City.

After fantastic hold-up play by R. Heskey on the left, Charlie Gray broke the Feyenoord lines as he played Oboavwoduo through to the by-line.

His first-time floated cross to the back post was volleyed in by Alfa-Ruprecht to double City’s advantage with just under 10 minutes left of the first half.

And it was a similar story after the restart, with Matty Warhurst seeing a close-range effort saved by the outstretched legs of Haksteeg.

In retaliation, Feyenoord continued to test City’s defence. A mistimed tackle by Matty Henderson-Hall in our box saw the referee point to the penalty spot.

Neijenhuis converted the spot kick on 54 minutes and in turn, the visitors had some wind in their sails.

With the game a little more end-to-end compared to the first half, the next goal would be pivotal. But it was City who grabbed it.

Akin to David Silva's famous assist against Wigan in 2012, Oboavwoduo danced away from three Feyenoord players and drove towards the opposition goal.

He slotted the ball through to substitute McAidoo, who found the back of the net with his first touch of the game on 70 minutes.

It took the 16-year-old just one minute and nine seconds to make it four for City, with Oboavwoduo once again crucial in the build-up.

From the restart, a quick high press by the forward forced an error from the Feyenoord goalkeeper, whose clearance deflected off Oboavwoduo and into the path of McAidoo.

He tapped the ball into the open net - two goals with two touches!

R. Heskey got his second of the night as his heavily deflected effort was another example of City’s eye-catching attacks being difficult to handle, but the final say would fall to McAidoo, who completed one of his best substitute performances in City colours with another goal.

It came after Gray was brought down in the Feyenoord box, with the youngster making no mistake from the spot to cap off a fantastic performance from our Under-19s.

HOW WE LINED UP

Ben Wilkinson selected Oliver Whatmuff as his goalkeeper. City’s defensive line called up for action was Matty Henderson-Hall, Lakyle Samuel, Stephen Mfuni and Kaden Braithwaite.

In midfield, Charlie Gray, captain Jaden Heskey and Justin Oboavwoduo were tasked with bridging the gap between defence and attack.

Matty Warhurst led the attacking charge with Farid Alfa-Ruprecht and Reigan Heskey on either flank.

CITY XI | Whatmuff, Henderson-Hall (Noble 83'), Samuel, Mfuni, Braithwaite, Gray, Alfa-Ruprecht, J. Heskey (Mukasa 83'), Warhurst (McAidoo 70’), Oboavwoduo (Nfonkeu 90'), R. Heskey (Batty 90').

SUBS | Hudson.

FEYENOORD XI | Haksteeg, Amaud, Giersthove (Schens 80'), Plug, Agboluaje, El Hamouz (Zekovic 72'), Sliti, Kraaijeveld (Van Den Elshout 46’), Neijenhuis (Mparaganda 72'), Rudisill, Ouarghi (Hoepel 46’).

SUBS | Zon, De Koning, Pedro Vanga, Sebbar.

WHAT IT MEANS

City have jumped considerably up the table to sixth but surrounding teams still have gameweek five to come.

The three points means City now have nine from a possible 15.

UP NEXT

Wilkinson’s side will complete the month with a trip to Sunderland.

We take on the Black Cats on Saturday 30 November, with kick-off scheduled for 12:00 (UK) as we fight to stay top of the Premier League 2 table.