Remembering The Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup Run

LCFC MEN U18S
14 Dec 2022
2 Minutes
Leicester City’s Under-18s enter the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday 21 December, taking on Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-18s.

The third round tie will take place at Aggborough Stadium (7pm GMT kick-off), with the winner set to earn a place in the next round of the competition.

The Foxes youngsters reached the quarter-finals in 2021/22 and, ahead of this encounter, LCFC.com take a look back at that run to the last eight…

It started at Villa Park as City faced the holders, Aston Villa, in a tricky third round clash. The visitors were more than up to the task, breaking the deadlock courtesy of Kian Pennant’s clinical close-range finish, slotting the ball in after sprinting into the penalty area.

The away side then broke away in stoppage time, with Sammy Braybrooke picking out Chris Popov, who sent the ball into an empty net and sealed a memorable 2-0 cup success.

Next up was Crewe Alexandra at LCFC Training Ground and Leicester needed to produce a late showing to defeat the Railwaymen 1-0 and progress into the fifth round.

Jack Butterfill celebrates scoring the winning goal against Crewe.

The home side had to wait until the final minute of normal time to make the breakthrough and Jack Butterfill, who came off the bench 30 minutes earlier, was cool, calm and composed to send the hosts through.

City's Under-18s soon booked their place in the quarter-finals of the cup with a 5-1 win over AFC Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium. Will Alves gave the visitors the lead and, two minutes later, Popov picked up the pieces to add a second.

Lewis Brown pulled a goal back for Bournemouth soon after the resumption only for Braybrooke to strike back with the away side's third.

Two late goals from Brandon Cover then put gloss on the result, as the squad booked an away trip to Manchester United in the final eight of the prestigious youth competition.

The Foxes would fall at the quarter-final hurdle, suffering late heartbreak as they fell to a 2-1 defeat, ending a 13-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Chris Popov netted against his former side.

Leicester took the lead when Joe Wormleighton curled a low cross into Popov, who took a touch and saw his effort squirm in to continue his goalscoring run in the competition. 

The half ended in frustration for Leicester when Alejandro Garnacho restored parity on the scoresheet seconds later, arrowing a free-kick into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.

The youngster added his and United’s second in the 89th-minute goal, drilling a shot into the far corner in a crushing blow for the away side.

The Club's youngsters could take pride from their run in the competition and will be hoping to go at least one step further this time around.