U21s Report: Leicester City 2 Villarreal 3

- Foxes midfielder Matty James notched up an hour in his return to action after seven months out with a knee injury

- First teamers Ben Hamer, Yohan Benalouane and Nathan Dyer all played 90 minutes 

Leicester City’s Development Squad were narrowly beaten by Villarreal in their final Group C Premier League International Cup fixture at King Power Stadium on Wednesday. 

Villarreal took a two goal lead after both Carlos Martinez and Ramiro Guerra found the back of the net in the first period. 

City reduced the deficit shortly after the Spanish outfit’s second goal as midfielder Michael Cain fired in just before half-time. 

Alfonso Pedraza made it 3-1 early in the second period, but City responded immediately through striker Admiral Muskwe, who scored his first goal for the Development Squad after turning in Nathan Dyer’s cross. 

The result meant City exited the competition at the group stage, but the Club’s youngsters will have undoubtedly gained some valuable experience from playing against impressive opposition in the form of Villarreal. 

Midfielder Matty James completed 60 minutes on his return to action after seven months out with a knee injury, while fellow first teamers Ben Hamer, Dyer and Yohan Benalouane also picked up important game time. 

After an even opening period, Villarreal took the lead in the 25th minute as the lively Leonardo Suarez found Martinez, who coolly slotted in to open the scoring. 

City pressed for an equaliser and came close when Jak McCourt hammered a sweet volley goal-bound, only to see his strike saved by goalkeeper Ander Cantero. 

The visitors then doubled their lead in 38th minute when Guerra pinched the ball on the edge of the box and produced a smart finish past Hamer. 

The Foxes responded well to going 2-0 down. Dyer found himself on the edge of the box and slotted the ball into Cain, who made it 2-1 just before half-time with a fierce drive that left Cantero rooted to the spot. 

The visitors restored their two goal lead early in the second half when striker Pedraza broke the offside trap and slotted in past Hamer to make it 3-1. 

But the home side refused to give up and their persistence paid dividends on 55 minutes when Dyer’s cross was turned in at the near post by England youth international Muskwe. 

Energetic Villarreal skipper Martinez then sent a curling effort onto the post, before City’s Kairo Mitchell nearly got one back for the home side on the 75th minute, but couldn’t quite direct his strike on target. 

St. Kitts and Nevis international Harry Panayiotou came close in the dying minutes of the game as his header was expertly tipped over by Cantero, before Jack Barmby was dismissed late on. 

The Development Squad next face Manchester United in the Barclays U21 Premier League on Monday 14 December at Leigh Sports Village. 

CITY: Hamer, Sesay, Barmby, McCourt (c), Moore (Miles 62), Benalouane, Cain (Fox 81), James (Mitchell 62), Panayiotou, Muskwe, Dyer 

SUBS NOT USED: Bramley, Johnson, Kipre 

GOALS: Cain 42, Muskwe 55 

VILLARREAL: Cantero, C. J. Martinez, Ramirez (Gonzalez 83), Ojog, Lopez, Shvets, Suarez, Guerra, Pedraza, C. Martinez (Jimenez 90), Acosta (Guido 64) 

SUBS NOT USED: A. Fernandez, J. Fernandez 

GOALS: Martinez 25, Guerra 38, Pedraza 51 

REFEREE: Sarah Garratt 

ATTENDANCE: 2,847