MANCHESTER CITY EDS 0, SWANSEA U23 1
Kenji Gorre conjured up an unlikely injury time winner for Swansea City U23 after Manchester City’s EDS team had wasted every chance they created against their visitors.
The home side dominated possession and created chances but looked toothless up front as they were thwarted by some poor finishing against Swansea’s U23 team.
EDS striker Lukas Nmecha had been called up to the first team squad during the week to help Pep Guardiola through an injury crisis but his absence hurt the EDS team who struggled to put their chances away against the young Swans.
After a first half that City bossed but couldn’t find a breakthrough the home side continued to impress in possession but struggled to break the Swansea defence down despite carving out several good chances for themselves.
City had a couple of early scares when Cian Harries’ early header from George Byers’ corner was cleared while Daniel James was wayward with his shot.
City captain Joel Latibeaudiere had earlier denied the swift Jordan Garrick a shooting opportunity with a well timed challenge to put the ball out while Garrick was denied another chance to shoot as Aro Muric came off his line to intercept the loose ball.
Latibeaudiere had a golden chance to head City into the lead after 17 minutes when Javairo Dilrosun’s corner was found the 18 year old and whose header was clawed off his line by Gregor Zabret.
City got into a good pressing rhythm half way through the first period and Matthew Smith sent a shot wide after half an hour after some good work down the left flank to win the ball back.
Rabbi Matondo had a low cross put out by Zabret and Tom Dele-Bashiru had a shot saved by the Swansea keeper who was by far the busier of the two keepers.
City’s intensity dropped a little on the stroke of half time, when Garrick outmuscled Ed Francis and put a cross in only to see it cleared but the defender was there a minute later to clear a Daniel James cross into the area.
Nabil Touaizi replaced Lorenzo Gonzalez after the break and City continued to press the Swansea team and he was badly fouled by Aaron Lewis who was given a final warning by the referee who had already booked the Swansea defender.
James had a shot charged down after cutting inside as City couldn’t make any progress against Swansea, even during a period when Swansea left back Matic Paljk was off the field tying his shoelaces.
Tommy Doyle, who has just been called up to the England U17 squad for the Algarve Tournament, was brought on in the 63rd minute to replace Tom Dele-Bashiru.
The frustration continued for City as Dilrosun’s shot was blocked and Rabbi Matondo sliced wide after doing all the hard work to create an opening on the right side of the box.
Swansea made a double change with Botti Biabi and Kenji Gorre replace Courtney Baker-Richardson and Daniel James after 71 minutes.
City’s best chance of the half five minutes later after Matondo flew down the right flank and his shot whistled just past the back post with Zabret beaten.
City eventually ran out of ideas and Swansea had tried everything to stop their opponents and started resorting to fouls – including a blatant shirt pull to stop Doyle from getting a run into the Swansea area.
And Matondo had yet another one-on-one with Zabret after Doyle’s through ball had sliced open the visitors’ defence but the winger turned his close range shot wide of the near post.
Kenji Gorre summed up City’s night by stabbing home an unlikely winner for the visitors after a long ball was sent into the area where Eric Garcia should have been, allowing the Dutch youngster to beat Muric who had otherwise had little to do all night.
MATCH STATS
Man City EDS: Muric, Garcia, Latibeaudiere, Francis, Pozo, Smith, Matondo, Dele-Bashiru (Doyle 63), Gonzalez (Touaizi 46), Dilrosun, Poveda
Man City EDS Subs: Wilson, Anderson, Wood, Doyle, Touaizi
Swansea City U23: Zabret, Lewis, Paljk, Evans, Harries, Cooper, James (Gorre 71), Maric, Baker-Richardson (Biabi 71), Byers, Garrick
Swansea City U23 Subs: Davies, Benda, Dulca, Gorre, Biabi
Booked: Lewis, Evans, Paljk
Goal: Gorre 90