U21s Report: Leicester City 2 Norwich 2

Sam Kelly gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at the break before Ben Chilwell equalised for City with just 20 minutes to go after firing in from the edge of the box.
Cameron Norman restored Norwich’s lead two minutes later, but Leicester rallied, and found a deserved goal at the death through Dodoo, who hammered in a sweet half-volley from 20 yards.
The Foxes were fresh off a Premier League International Cup – a game which saw City come from two goals down to win 3-2, and in turn, secure top spot in Group C of the competition to set up a home time in the quarter-finals.
Their league form has also been productive, earning a late win over a at Belvoir Drive in mid-January, before a credible in their last league clash.
Level on points with Norwich going into the clash, City went close to breaking the deadlock with just seven minutes on the clock. Defender Joe Davis headed Jak McCourt’s corner towards goal, only for right-back Reece Hall-Johnson to clear off the line.
Jack Barmby did well on the quarter-hour mark. The tricky winger cut in from the right and slipped in Dodoo, who fired wide from a narrow angle.
Davis was then on hand to clear Belgian international Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe’s dangerous cross to safety as captain Carlton Morris looked to pounce on the opportunity.
A threat on the break, Norwich scored their first goal of the clash with 36 minutes gone. Conor McGrandles flew down the right wing before delivering a low cross into Kelly, who converted from three yards.
Barmby looked for an immediate reply as the first half drew to a close. The wideman, who recently returned from a one-month loan spell with Championship outfit Rotherham, curled a free kick from the right flank towards goal, but couldn’t hit the target, and Norwich carried their one-goal advantage into half-time.
Norman spurned a chance to double his side’s lead shortly after the break. McGrandles flicked on for the Canaries No.7, who sliced wide of Jonny Maddison’s net.
A neat one-two between captain James Pearson and Dodoo saw the former blast over from an angle as City piled on the pressure.
Steve Beaglehole introduced young forward Keenan King on 65 minutes, and the striker made an immediate impact. Causing havoc upfront, King outmuscled one defender before turning and teeing up Harry Panayiotou.
The St. Kitts and Nevis international then slipped in Dodoo, who delivered to Simonas Stankevicius at the back post – goalkeeper Remi Matthews collecting the Lithuanian frontman’s effort with comfort.
City’s aggressive, attacking play finally paid off with 70 minutes on the clock. Left-back Chilwell found space on the edge of the box and hammered home past Matthews to level the game up at one-a-piece.
But Norwich responded well, and two minutes after the Foxes’ leveller, a deep ball into the box from Ray Grant saw Norman take a touch before drilling a shot past Maddison at the far post to put his side 2-1 up.
A clean, 25-yard drive from McCourt then forced Matthews into a good stop, before Stankevicius’ close-range effort was cleared by the Norwich defence.
With City pushing men forward, only Maddison stood in the way of a third goal for the visitors, getting down well to save McGrandles’ placed strike.
Stankevicius looked certain to level the score with three minutes to go after forcing Matthews into another point-blank stop, but it was Dodoo who eventually found the equaliser.
City’s No.11 killed the ball with his first touch before blasting a low, half-volley into the bottom corner of the Norwich net – a goal that proved to be the last action of the tie.
Now four games unbeaten in all competitions, City next travel to Fulham in the U21 Premier League on Wednesday 25 February.
CITY: Maddison, Pearson (c), Chilwell, McCourt, Davis, Sesay (Kennedy 46), Scott (Rowley 46), Barmby (King 65), Stankevicius, Panayiotou, Dodoo
SUBS NOT USED: Smith-Varnham, Miles
GOALS: Chilwell 70, Dodoo 90
NORWICH: Matthews, Hall-Johnson, Efete, Grant, Ramsey, Fox (Boateng 77), Norman, McGrandies, Morris (c), Odjidja-Ofoe, Kelly
SUBS NOT USED: Cantwell, Black, Couzens
GOALS: Kelly 36, Norman 72
REFEREE: Ian Dudley