Match Recap: Leeds United u18s 8-2 MK Dons u18s

Leeds United’s under-18 side reached the fourth round of The F.A Youth Cup with a performance in which ‘dominant’ would be an understatement as they ran out 8-2 winners over MK Dons.

The Whites lined-up with an all-out under-18 lineup, with just one player with under-23 experience making the team for this game. Max McMillan is the only player who has played in The Premier League 2 this season but Morten Spencer and Alfie Hughes in midfield are ones-to-watch.

Leeds came close on 12 minutes as Coleman latched on to a loose ball in midfield, driving into space before unleashing a great strike from 25 yards, dipping just over the crossbar with the keeper just about beaten.

But the youngsters in White took the lead just a few minutes later as Leeds’ press on MK Dons playing out from the back paid-off. The left-back looked to play the ball into the centre of defence, but Snowden was in the way and most alive to the situation. He drove toward the front post with two defenders challenging, but they couldn’t stop him from drilling the ball low past the keeper from a tight angle.

They doubled their lead four minutes later as Morten Spencer picked up the ball in midfield without many options to pass. He worked his way into the MK Dons third before going for goal from range. His shot took a big deflection, leaving the keeper stranded with no chance of stopping the ball nestling into the bottom right corner to give Leeds a 2-0 advantage.

It then went from bad to worse for MK Dons who went down to ten men as Carole picked-up the ball in the midfield before driving toward the defence. A big touch opened the possibility of a challenge from an MK Dons man, but he ended up flying into the challenge and was sent-off for his late tackle.

Leeds capitalised on this by scoring their third goal inside the first 25 minutes. It started with Morten Spencer who pinged a lovely pass from right to left for Carole on the far side, Carole cut inside and nipped the ball into McMillan in the penalty area. McMillan Cryuff-turned his marker, opening a shot on his right-foot across goal, curling the ball perfectly into the far right corner of the net to finish a spectacular move.

But MK Dons would not give up, giving the Leeds youngsters to think about having just passed the half-hour mark. The ball was swung in from the right toward the back post which Teale got to first. He tried to clear the ball acrobatically but didn’t get a clean connection, opening up a tap-in from close range which was scrapped into the net.

But Leeds grabbed their fourth on 38 minutes following a lovely run inside from the right by Alfie Hughes. He dribbled across the edge of the box, nipping the ball around a couple of challenges before Coleman ran onto the ball and smashed the ball into the right corner from a central position on the edge of the box.

The fifth goal arrived on 52 minutes from a far-side throw-in, arriving at the feet of Fewster who came on for the injured Morten Spencer. He cut the ball back for Snowden by the edge of the box who clipped the ball past the keeper and into the top-left corner.

Max McMillan scored his second goal of the night as he latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the box from a poorly controlled cross. He took a touch to set himself before smashing the ball into the top-right corner to make it 6-1.

After being denied what looked like a clear penalty kick, The Whites got their seventh goal of the game as substitutes combined with 12 minutes left. Chikukwa ran onto a nice ball down the right hand side before cutting the ball back for Fewster on the edge of the box. He twisted and turned on the spot to find an opening on his left foot, with his sliding finish beating the goalkeeper and nestling into the bottom left corner.

Chikwukwa went from creator to scorer in the 87th minute, turning his man on the left from a throw-in before shimmying in and out and swinging a low strike around the far post and into the bottom left corner.

Unfortunately, MK Dons did manage to get a second goal and make this a ten-goal tie. The Dons’ right-back running on to a short clearance before drilling the ball low across the keeper, hitting the inside of the left post and crossing the line.

A quite simply breathtaking performance from the Leeds United under-18s sees the young Whites progress to the fourth round of The F.A Youth Cup where they will meet Newcastle United away from home, with Leeds signing off in emphatic style.