City’s Under-23s Beaten By Spurs In PL2
Five changes were made from the side that lost to Barrow in the Papa John’s Trophy ahead of the international break, with Brad Young, Ben Nelson, Vontae Daley-Campbell, Sammy Braybrooke and Tawanda Maswanhise coming back into the starting XI.
Leicester made the perfect start inside three minutes when Kasey McAteer got into the area and teed up Maswanhise, who took a touch to take the ball onto his left foot before hammering an unstoppable strike into the roof of the net.
And the Foxes could have doubled their advantage when Braybrooke struck the side-netting with a curling shot from distance, ahead of Maswanhise twisting and turning to create space for a shot, but again was unable to find the target.
Wanya Marcal-Madiavdua then forced a save from Thimothée Lo-Tutala after 19 minutes and once more on the half-hour mark the Spurs shot-stopper was able to hold on to his second effort.
City goalkeeper Young’s first involvement was to deny visiting skipper Harvey White from restoring parity, but the visitors did not have to wait long for the equaliser. Jack Clarke miscued a shot which fell to Dilan Markanday and he was able to slide the ball across the box for Malachi Fagan-Walcott to slot home from close range on 37 minutes.
Tottenham soon took the lead for the first time, as White curled an inch-perfect free-kick into the top right-hand corner from the edge of the area.
Back at the other end, Marcal-Madivadua bent one into the arms of Lo-Tutala as Leicester searched for a response before the break, while Yago Alonso saw an effort kept out by Young.
Thanawat Suengchitthawon then saw an attempt blocked by Tobi Omole in the penalty area, ahead of Lewis Brunt heading wide from Braybrooke’s corner in the first meaningful action of the second half.
Omole made his presence felt at the other end of the pitch eight minutes into the second half as he prodded the ball home, after City failed to clear White's looping cross, to made it 3-1.
And the fourth goal arrived five minutes later when Markanday registered his second assist of the night, teeing up White to net his brace after good work from full-back Marcel Lavinier down the right flank.
Markanday tried his luck from distance looking for a goal of his own, but Young was able to keep out his effort - and another from Nile John shortly after. The Lilywhites did have the ball in the net for a fifth time as White tapped in, but the offside flag denied him a hat-trick.
To Leicester’s credit, they kept going until the end and after McAteer’s volley was palmed away, two substitutes combined, with Ethan Fitzhugh glancing a header wide from Jake Wakeling’s cross.
Fitzhugh was involved again with two minutes to play, springing the offside trap and taking the ball around Lo-Tutala, who brought the winger down and conceded a spot-kick.
McAteer stepped up for what would have been a consolation, but Spurs’ shot-stopper made amends, getting down low to keep McAteer out from 12 yards and ensure it would finish 4-1.
Major moment
It was a lightning quick start from the Foxes, who were ahead within three minutes, courtesy of Tawanda Maswanhise’s smart finish. But Spurs were able to find the net twice in each half to turn the game on its head and leave Seagrave with the points.
Who impressed?
Speaking on LCFC TV's live coverage, former Foxes defender Gerry Taggart said: “Young [Sammy] Braybrooke, he was lively in the game, he’s got great vision, great technical ability, he’s had a decent game.”
Coming up...
The Development Squad are back in Premier League 2 action on Sunday, facing Liverpool at Liverpool Academy (2pm GMT kick-off).
The details…
City: Young, Daley-Campbell (c), Spencer-Adams (Wakeling 46’), Brunt, B.Nelson; McAteer; Braybrooke, Ewing; Marcal-Madivadua, Suengchitthawon (Flynn 62’), Maswanhise (Fitzhugh 72’).
Subs not used: Odunze, Alves.
Goal: Maswanhise 3'.