U18 Report: City 3 Southampton 3

In an entertaining first half, Kyle Bailey gave the young Foxes an early lead, but the Saints were quick to respond and two quick-fire goals from striker Ryan Seager saw Southampton pull ahead.

Leicester responded well to going behind, and a brace from striker Layton Ndukwu was enough to send the Foxes into the half-time interval with a well-deserved 3-2 lead.

In an evenly contested second half, Leicester defended resiliently until the final minute of the game, when Demkiv cut inside and fired a powerful strike that looped over City ‘keeper Liam Sharpe and in off the crossbar.

After a lively start, the first goal of the match fell to Leicester winger Bailey with just eight minutes gone, after great play on the left-hand side from England Under-18 full-back Ben Chilwell.

Chilwell found the space for a cross and whipped in an inviting delivery that found Bailey, who turned smartly and cut inside from the right, finishing in clinical style with a curled left footed shot that found the far corner.

But Southampton were quick to reply, and equalised from the penalty spot just a minute later – Saints frontman Seager calmly slotting home after Jack Hesketh was fouled inside the penalty area.

With the game finely balanced and both teams looking to attack, Southampton took a 2-1 lead – striker Seager scoring his second of the match with 23 minutes gone.

Southampton were awarded a free-kick on the right-hand side and Armani Little curled in an inviting delivery to the far post that was met by Seager, who finished in clinical style with a powerful volley across goal and into the far corner.

Leicester’s response was swift, and Nduwku equalised with 28 minutes on the clock, after excellent build-up play between the impressive Bailey and striker Simonas Stankevicius.

Bailey’s delivery was met by City’s Lithuania international forward, whose smart flick-on found Nduwku, who fired a powerful shot under Saints ‘keeper Isted to level the match at 2-2.

City continued to look lively and regained the lead just two minutes before the break, Ndwuku with a cool finish after fine work from Bailey on the right-hand side.

With the match finely poised, Southampton pressed for an equaliser, but struggled to break through a resilient Leicester defence.

The visitors were largely kept quiet until the 90th minute of the match, when substitute Demkiv cut inside and fired a powerful strike from 25 yards, beating City ‘keeper Sharpe and crashing in off the crossbar.

The Foxes could have won it in stoppage time, after Danny Rowe broke free on the right hand side, but his powerful shot was well-saved by Isted.

Next up for City’s Under-18s is a home game against West Ham United on Saturday 15 March.

City:Sharpe, Casey, Chilwell (Anderson, 90), Moore, Jones, Dineen, Bailey, Miles, Stankevicius, Rowe, Nduwku.

Goals: Bailey, 8, Nduwku, 28, 43