City exit UEFA Youth League after quarter-final defeat to AZ Alkmaar | OneFootball

Deacon van der Klaauw's injury time strike saw AZ Alkmaar defeat City's Under-19s 1-0 to snatch a place in the UEFA Youth League semi-final.

After a first half stalemate, which saw City enjoy more chances, Ben Wilkinson’s side stepped up the ante after the break.

City’s best chance saw Divine Mukasa’s penalty saved after Michael Okeke was fouled in the AZ Alkmaar box just before the hour mark.

The young Blues dominated territory, possession and chances.

However, favour instead fell kindly for the hosts who scored with their only shot on target deep into added time to send AZ through to the final four of the prestigious competition.

WHAT HAPPENED

Thousands of fans surrounded the AZ Alkmaar training facility pitch as the Dutch locals came out to support the 2022/23 UEFA Youth League champions.

With the sun shining and a warm breeze making for an idyllic setting just north of Amsterdam, City looked prepared for another probing European test.

The hosts looked to pounce on City’s kick-off with Yoel van den Ban charging down Max Alleyne and blocking the ball. He continued to press and in turn, picked up possession before firing a warning shot just wide of the right post 12 seconds into the game.

The following 15 minutes saw both teams slowly test each other but neither side overcommitted bodies forward to leave themselves susceptible to the break.

Divine Mukasa registered City’s first shot on target on 16 minutes after a bold run by Laykle Samuel gave his teammate space to shoot once the defender played the ball into his path.

At the other end, quick link-up play by Wassim Bouziane and Saviola Saffoe saw the latter fizz a dangerous, low ball across City’s goal from the left.

Van den Ban tapped the ball goal-bound but a combined effort from Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Stephen Mfuni saw City clear our lines seven minutes later.

After more back-and-forth, AZ Alkmaar’s Bohdan Budko watched his ranged strike fly wide before Matty Warhurst’s header from close-range was caught comfortably by Kiyani Zeggen in the closing exchanges of the first half.

When the half-time whistle blew, Wilkinson’s side could head into the changing room confident we were the better side in what was a controlled 45 minutes.

AZ Alkmaar enjoyed more of the ball but they failed to register a shot on target compared to City’s four chances that would need to be more threatening in order to beat Zeggen.

It then looked like the perfect start to the second half for City when referee Ivana Martincic pointed to the penalty spot after great tenacity from Okeke drew a foul in the box from Saviola Saffoe.

Mukasa stepped up to take and tried to catch Zeggen off guard with a quick take but the AZ Alkmaar shot-stopper was ready and dived the right way to keep the score goalless.

The game became a little fractured on the hour mark with both teams picking up yellow cards as frustration showed as a breakthrough proved elusive.

City had AZ Alkmaar pinned in their own half as we approached the final 15 minutes. Henderson-Hall and Warhurst both saw chances saved or just miss the target.

The former also tried to surprise Zeggen, disguising his cross for a thumping strike but the ‘keeper readjusted to deny another Henderson-Hall opportunity.

In an almost identical replay of the goal he scored in City’s 2-1 win over Hoffenheim, substitute Reigan Heskey cut inside and fired a right-footed shot wide of the left post on 80 minutes.

Two long balls over the top to Bouziane in quick succession saw the AZ Alkmaar forward try to test City's back line but solid defending from Samuel muted the attacks.

AZ Alkmaar enjoyed a little more of the ball in the closing stages and next Kasper Boogaard saw his curling shot move just wide of the left post.

With the game on the cusp of a penalty shoot-out, the hosts grasped one final opportunity to attack.

Substitute van den Ban received a long ball on the switch from left to right and fired a half volley into the top right corner with what proved AZ Alkmaar’s only shot on target.

Seconds later referee Martincic blew the full-time whistle to confirm City’s exit from the UEFA Youth League.

HOW WE LINED UP

Ben Wilkinson selected Oliver Whatmuff as his goalkeeper and he was accompanied by a UEFA Youth League regular back four of Lakyle Samuel, Max Alleyne, skipper Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Stephen Mfuni.

After serving his one-match suspension, we saw the return of Charlie Gray to the starting line-up and he was alongside Michael Okeke for his first knockout stage game appearance and Divine Mukasa.

Matty Warhurst led our attacking line with Matty Henderson-Hall and Ryan McAidoo providing quick options out wide.

AZ ALKMAAR XI | Zeggen, Menu, Oud, Van Ouytsel, Saffoe (Inge 75’), Smits (van der Klaauw 75’), Boogaard, Oerip (C), Budko, Van Den Ban, Bouziane.

UNUSED SUBS | Homan, Zwart, Johannessen, De Wit, H. de Wit, Ijssel de Schepper, Luijer.

CITY XI | Whatmuff, Samuel, Alleyne, Simpson-Pusey (C), Mfuni, Gray, Henderson-Hall (McFarlane 88’), Okeke, Warhurst, Mukasa, McAidoo (R. Heskey 72’).

UNUSED SUBS | Brits, Wint, Braithwaite, Noble, Gorman.

WHAT IT MEANS

City's UEFA Youth League journey has come to an end at the quarter-finals.

UP NEXT

Our attention quickly turns to an important Premier League 2 trip to Fulham.

We take on the London outfit on Monday 7 April with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 (UK).

A win for Wilkinson’s youngsters would see us confirm our place at the league summit with one game left to play before the knockout stage of the competition.