10-man City fall to UEFA Youth League defeat at Sporting CP

After an even opening 45 minutes, second-half strikes from Sporting’s Denilson Santos and Gabriel Silva put the hosts ahead.

A straight red card for captain Max Alleyne 15 minutes before full-time left City with a tough task against an organised Portuguese side who were able to hold out for all three points.

But with games against Feyenoord and Juventus remaining in the League Phase, Ben Wilkinson’s side still have a chance to qualify for the competition’s knockout stages.

WHAT HAPPENED

A long way out of the Lisbon city centre, a journey which included a trip across the beautiful Vasco de Gama bridge, Sporting’s Academy – similar in set-up to the City Football Academy – played host to our latest Youth League test.

The hosts were looking to extend their unbeaten run in the competition, sitting fifth with seven points from two wins and a draw as the game began.

But City had our eyes set on breaking into the top five of the League Phase table.

Two very different styles of play continuously came to blows in the early exchanges of the first half.

Sporting looked to play through the middle of the pitch which Charlie Gray and Jaden Heskey did well to nullify.

City, on the other hand, looked to work through the thirds, going wide to Farid Alfa-Ruprecht and Reigan Heskey who stretched Sporting’s defence with their speed.

Despite possession being even come the half-time whistle, Sporting looked the brighter side in front of goal.

Santos, Manuel Mendonca and Flavio Goncalves saw chances blocked or fly just wide of Oliver Whatmuff’s goal inside the opening 25 minutes.

Arguably Sporting’s best chance came on 38 minutes after more end-to-end football that proved to be a real tactical battle.

The host’s free-kick from the left swung in towards the back post. The ball was nodded back across the face of the City goal and Silva was waiting at the opposite post but his effort floated wide of the left post.

And it proved to be the final dangerous chance for either side ahead of the interval.

But it was Sporting who charged out the gate the quickest when the teams returned to the pitch.

Despite City looking the strongest in the opening two minutes, Santos scored for Sporting in the 49th minute. The full-back made a darting run in behind City’s defence, a quick counter from one end of the pitch to the other.

His left-footed shot snuck under Whatmuff’s left hand and into the opposite corner. And the Portuguese youngsters’ momentum continued to build.

After Alleyne, Stephen Mfuni and Lakyle Samuel failed to lay claim to the Sporting through ball, Silva latched onto it and unleashed a curled shot out of reach for Whatmuff as Sporting’s No. 9 doubled his team’s advantage just before the hour mark.

J. Heskey had the chance to pull one back for the boys in blue almost immediately when Gray’s pass, intended for Justin Oboavwoduo, fell into his path.

His resulting shot, a few minutes after the restart, flew over the crossbar but gave Wilkinson’s side hope of finding the back of the Sporting net.

Immediate impact by substitute Ryan McAidoo also helped swing momentum in favour of City. He won a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area’s right corner, a result of Wilkinson’s side showing more fire in the way we played.

Divine Mukasa’s set piece on 71 minutes curled towards the goal and was punched away by ‘keeper Miguel Gouveia – City’s best chance of the match.

A quick play from back to front through the centre of City’s defence saw Silva spin past Alleyne and our downfall followed.

The City captain was the last man. In an attempt to stop his opponent, Alleyne pulled the Sporting striker to the ground and in turn was dismissed with a straight red card, leaving Wilkinson’s side a man short for the final 15 minutes.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, our Under-19s finished the game strong, holding a good account of ourselves.

McAidoo almost pulled one back for City, his effort saved by Gouveia, in what was the final chance of the game.

HOW WE LINED UP

Oliver Whatmuff was named City’s ‘keeper and was shielded by a defensive four of Lakyle Samuel, Max Alleyne, Stephen Mfuni and Kaden Braithwaite.

In midfield, Charlie Gray lined up alongside Jaden Heskey and Divine Mukasa.

Justin Oboavwoduo led City’s attacking line with Reigan Heskey and Farid Alfa-Ruprecht on hand to provide a threat on either side.

SPORTING CP XI | Gouveia, Costa (Blopa 85′), Dominguez, Monteiro, Santos, Felicissimo, Goncalves, Arreiol, Silva (Martins 80′), Mendonca, Momade (Sanha 80′).

SUBS | Clara, Lee, Mota, Mendes, Monteiro, Nascimento.

CITY XI | Whatmuff, Samuel, Alleyne, Carpenter, Braithwaite, Gray (Fapetu 85′), Alpha-Ruprecht (McAidoo 65′), J. Heskey, Oboavwoduo (Warhurst 86′), Mukasa (Noble 76′), R. Heskey.

SUBS | Hudson.

WHAT IT MEANS

City remain on six points with two games left to play.

Wilkinson’s squad sit 10th in the 38-team league and it’s all to play for as we fight to place in the top 28.

UP NEXT

Our attention now turns to the EFL Trophy and our trip to Lincoln City on Tuesday 12 November.

Our final game in Group G sees us take on the League One outfit at 19:00 (UK) with a place in the competition’s knockout stage on the line.

A win for Wilkinson’s EDS side would see us progress.

Regular updates of the match will be available on X: @ManCityAcademy and a detailed match report as well as post-match reaction will be available on mancity.com and the Official Man City App shortly after the game has concluded.