Match Recap: Newcastle United u23s 4-3 Leeds United u23s

Leeds United’s under-23 side fell to a 4-3 defeat away to Newcastle despite leading 3-0 in the first half as The youth Whites now go into the international break.

The young Whites lined-up similarly to their 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace, with Bobby Kamwa and Liam McCarron coming into the side, replacing McMillan and Casey.

Max Dean started once again following his impressive start to the season, while Joe Gelhardt was among the topics asked about in Marcelo Bielsa’s press conference this week, with the new boy attracting eyes among the Leeds fans.

Sam Greenwood returned to the squad following ankle surgery while Crysencio Summerville also made the bench.

Joe Gelhardt has of course impressed many so far this season following his arrival from Wigan Athletic this summer, and the 18-year old hit Newcastle with a warning shot early on as his freekick from around 20 yards was took a slight deflection off the wall onto the top of the crossbar.

Newcastle’s first sight of goal came on nine minutes as their high press won the ball back with an excellent high press on Niall Huggins. They worked the ball across the box and into Dummet on the left side whose shot stung off the gloves of Caprile as he stretched high to parry the powerful strike.

The Toon came very close to opening the scoring on 13 minutes as the home side built the attack well through the middle as Toure led the charge having run onto a nice bit of play from Newcastle’s dropping striker who opened the space for him. He cut both ways before releasing a shot which bounced off the post and out of play.

Leeds opened the scoring on 20 minutes as Joe Gelhardt was once again at the focal point of the attack. He robbed Saivet of the ball in the midfield before nutmegging the Frenchman to find McCarron in the inside.

He slowed play to allow Gelhardt to make a run down the left before lifting the ball over the top into Gelhardt before darting into the box. Gelhardt drove inside and toward the by-line before cutting the ball back to the oncoming McCarron who smashed the ball into the top left corner.

The Whites came close to doubling their lead just four minutes later as Niall Huggins found himself high up the pitch on the left hand side, He spotted the run of Dean on the right and he pinged the ball across the pitch, floating onto the flying foot of Dean whose shot went just over the top.

McCarron’s first start since returning from injury was made even better on 27 minutes as Scotsmen combined to double the lead and McCarron’s goal tally. Stuart McKinstry lifted a deep cross into the box from the right, finding McCarron running beyond Kamwa in the middle as his diving header gave the keeper no chance.

Things went from bad to worse for Newcastle as their ten minute capitulation was capped-off by giving away a penalty for a challenge on Niall Huggins who was driving into the box. Joe Gelhardt stepped-up once again following his spot-kick against Palace a week earlier. His left footed shot nestled in the bottom right corner, beating the keeper who came very close to saving it.

But The Toon weren’t done yet, as they went up the pitch a few minutes later as they grabbed a goal back from a poorly defended corner kick which was put into a good area six yards from goal. Newcastle’s star attacker Toure rose highest and scored with a bullet header toward the near post.

Leeds came out for the second half and instantly had pressure to deal with, but they came out of that pressurised period and responded with an electric counter attack. McCarron took the ball in his stride from a cleared corner, turning his man before finding Gelhardt on the left. He drove inside and lifted the ball through once again to McCarron attacking the left channel, with his close-ranged shot tipped wide by the goalkeeper.

Photo by Mark Fletcher/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Whites continued to dominate but Newcastle managed to get a lifeline on the 70 minute mark as they were awarded a penalty kick following a mistake for Elia Caprile. He called for Kenneh to leave a hanging ball in for him, the Italian poorly caught the ball down low, opening room for Newcastle’s striker to nip in. Caprile dived to take control, taking down his man and conceding the penalty which was well converted by Anderson.

The Toon pushed on and quickly managed to equalise as a dangerous ball was sent across the penalty area into the six yard box. It beat the keeper and Kenneh got to the ball first but he couldn’t prevent the ball going into his own net as he slid in to clear, helping the ball across the line.

The Leeds youth looked to regroup following a quick capitulation of their own as Summerville arrived on the scene to deliver a brilliant cross in the six yard box from the right. Sam Greenwood was onto it but didn’t manage to connect and a brilliant chance went begging.

Newcastle completed the comeback in stoppage time as The Toon countered well with plenty of space for them outside of the box, as their winger cut inside on the edge of the box from the right before sliding the shot across the keeper and into the bottom corner.

Cheap goals and poor decision making prevented the youngsters from seeing out their initial 3-0 lead, as this game proves to be a vital lesson in the team’s development.