MANCHESTER CITY U18 3, STOKE CITY U18 2
Manchester City’s academy side had to rely on two substitutes to help claim a deserved victory at the City Football Academy against a lively Stoke City U18 side.
Nabil Touaizi had earlier cancelled out a shock Jordon Greenbridge opener laid on by Venancio De Silva Monteria before late goals by Eric Garcia and Keke Simmonds put City into the lead, leaving Kristofer Szereto’s injury time penalty little more than a consolation.
City, who controlled much of this game, were given an early shock when Stoke’s striker Greenbridge opened the scoring after just two minutes.
City’s Henri Ogunby had should have done the same for City even earlier than that but his shot was blocked while Nabil Touaizi was free.
Touaizi got the pass he wanted from Ogbunby in the 22nd minute, though, and swept in the equaliser.
City were in control of the game but unable to convert their chances with Ian Carlo Poveda eye-catching down the left flank even if a little wayward with his finishing.
For all their possession City barely gave Mate Deczki much to do in the Stoke goal but two quick second half saves from Ogunby and Tuaizi.
Stoke’s main threat came from Stoke target man Greenbridge and he did test Pawel Sokol in the City goal with some chances which came his way.
By contrast, however, City upped a gear with second half substitutions which saw their first sub Keke Simmonds hit the woodwork from a Jeremy Frimpong cross before their second sub Ryan Corrigan put in s superb looping cross which captain Eric Garcia bundled into the net in the 82nd minute to put City into the lead for the first time in the game.
It was a just reward for a commanding performance from the skilful centre back who was barking instructions for his attacking players at points during the game.
Simmonds latched onto a Iker Pozo through ball to make give City a comfortable and full deserved 3-1 with two minutes to go before Stoke gave the end of the game a frantic feel by pegging City back to 3-2 after a handball with Kristofer Szereto sending Sokol the wrong way from the penalty spot.
There was even time to see Stoke’s keeper Deczki race into the City area deep into stoppage time to try and snatch an unlikely equaliser from Szereto’s free kick but the Hungarian winger overcooked the set piece and City won.
MATCH STATS
Manchester City U18: Pawel Sokol, Jeremie Frimpong, Eric Garcia, Sammy Robinson (Kpohomouh 78), Reece Devine, Rowan McDonald, Henri Ogunby, Iker Pozo, Nabil Touaizi (Simmonds 65), Felix Nmecha, Ian Carlo Poveda (Corrigan 73)
Manchester City U18 Subs: Ryan Corrigan, Tom Scott, Taylor Bellis, Pascal Kpohomouh, Keke Simmonds
Goals: Touaizi 22, Garcia 82, Simmonds 88
Stoke City U18: Mate Deczki, Lewis Macari, Max Murphy, Joel Mvovi (Stanton 46), Nathan Collins, William Forrester, Kristofer Szereto, Jacob Twyford, Jordon Greenbridge, Venancio De Silva Monteria, Abdulaye Toure
Stoke City U18 Subs: James Jennings, Mitchell Allen, Ethan Stanton, Pat Jarratt, Adam Porter
Goals: Greenbridge 2, Szereto (pen) 90+1