MANCHESTER CITY EDS 1, SUNDERLAND U21 1
Aleix Garcia’s second half deflected shot deservedly levelled matters for City after they went behind to an early goal by Mikael Mandron but the home side couldn’t find a winner against the organised Black Cats.
City had a couple of early chances through Bersant Celina but Maksymilian Stryjek saved his first effort while the midfielder shot well wide with his next chance.
Sunderland hardly threatened in the first hal but announced themselves with the opening goal after 12 minutes through Mickael Mandron.
City tried to organise after the early blow but a succession of half chances were blocked by Sunderland’s organised defence or were hardly testing saves for Stryjek as City got themselves into good positions but Stryjek didn’t have to break a sweat.
In fact it was City’s ‘keeper Angus Gunn who had to move and stretch to his left to tip away George Honeyman’s 35th minute shot from the edge of the area as City’s probing met considerable resistance from the Black Cats’ defence.
City showed a considerable improvement in the second half with more action down their right flank while Garcia, who has been named in the first team squad on several occasions this season, was a driving force from midfield.
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts’ cross was deflected away from Celina who would have had a tap-in from 2 yards right after the restart while Aleix Garcia was adjudged offside as he raced clear to try and offer a cut back a minute later.
Garcia, who had tried a 25 yard shot in the first half, finally scored with a deflected effort in the 51st minute to level the game.
City kept up the pressure in the Sunderland but couldn’t find too many clear chances until close to the end when Brandon Barker’s mazy run went down a dead end but Celina tried to find substitute David Faupala who won a corner with under 10 minutes to go.
City could have wrapped up the win in added time but Celina’s cross went behind Faupala and Buckley-Ricketts who were waiting in the box as Sunderland nervously played out a late City siege on their goal mouth.