Sunderland U18 1-1 Manchester City U18
Sunderland held high-scoring Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at the Academy of Light as Connor Slack’s late penalty earned the Black Cats their first home points of the season.
Keyendrah Simmonds handed City the lead after 61 minutes after seeing two shots cleared off the line in the first half to make the most of their possession.
Slack grabbed an 84th minute equaliser from the penalty spot to ensure the two sides shared the spoils.
The Black Cats came into the game in high spirits after their first win of the season last Saturday at West Brom, with the result lifting Paul Bryson’s side to eighth in the U18 Premier League.
Free-scoring Manchester City arrived on Wearside having netted a league-high of 15 goals in four games, although the Citizens were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Derby last time out.
City got away to a blistering start early on and came close to taking the lead after just two minutes, but Andrias Edmundsson was on hand to clear Simmonds’ goal-bound shot off the line.
Simmonds thought he had made his side’s possession count after 27 minutes as he fired Lewis Fiorini’s low cross towards goal, only to be denied by a stunning reflex save by Adam Cameron to keep the game goalless.
City striker Simmonds was left cursing his luck once again 10 minutes later after a defensive mix-up allowed him to pass into a seemingly empty net from 20 yards, only for Kane Evans to race back and clear off the line in the nick of time.
Unfortunately for the Black Cats, Simmonds’ persistence finally paid off just after the hour mark. D’Margio Wright-Phillips sped down the right-wing and sent a low cross across the six-yard box where Simmonds lay in wait to turn home and put City ahead.
Cameron prevented Cole Palmer from doubling their lead moments later, diving low to parry the substitute’s curling shot wide after he created space for himself in the box.
Sunderland threw caution to the wind late on in search of an equaliser and got just that with six minutes remaining from the penalty spot.
Slack darted past Henri Ogunby on the left-wing and cut inside the area before being brought down by the City full-back, who then watched on as Slack stepped up and sent Moulden the wrong way from the spot to earn the hosts a point.
Sunderland U18: Cameron, Evans, Howard, Neil, Edmundsson, Ord (Almond, 79’), Slack, Scothern, Kiernan, Best (Compper, 73’), Leonard (Miller, 78’).
Subs: Lilley, Bassey.