U21s Report: Leeds United 1-1 Aston Villa - Leeds United

Premier League 2

Leeds United U21 1 (Thomas pen 39’)

Aston Villa U21 1 (Lutz 79’)

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Cresswell, Ferguson, Toulson, Mullen, Lopata-White (C), Richards (Render 46’, Moore 75’), Coleman, Thomas, Chadwick (McFadden 67’), Vincent. Subs not used: Baird (GK), Monteiro.

Aston Villa: Lewis (GK), Pierre, Patterson, Smith, Amundsen-Day, Alcock (C), Young (Jimoh-Aloba 65’), Borland, Moore (Lutz 74’), Wilson (Katsukunya 86’), Broggio (Richards 65’). Subs not used: Proctor (GK).

Venue: LNER Community Stadium

Referee: Michael Crusham

Booked: Cresswell, Chadwick, Ferguson (Leeds) Borland, Katsukunya, Amundsen-Day (Aston Villa)

Leeds United Under-21s continued their unbeaten start to the season with a hard-fought draw against Aston Villa Under-21s in York.

Luca Thomas put the Whites into the lead with his second penalty in as many matches, before Charlie Lutz scrambled home a late equaliser for Villa to ensure the spoils were shared.

The visitors looked to set the tone early on, with forward Ben Broggio finding space on the Villa left and crossing low, only to find Whites’ skipper Reuben Lopata-White who was well-placed to clear.

Good work down the right then saw Rory Wilson have a sight of goal, fizzing a powerful left-footed drive narrowly over the bar from the edge of the area.

The services of Rory Mahady were called upon moments later for Scott Gardner’s youthful side as Villa’s bright start continued, making a stunning close-range sprawling save to smother Kadan Young’s effort at the back post.

Mahady’s busy evening continued, first making a pivotal interception as Wilson found space in the area, before then being equal to the Villa forward’s strike from distance with a stunning diving save as the Midlands outfit came forward once more.

A superb last-ditch challenge from Lopata-White then diverted Kobei Moore’s low strike behind, with Kerr Smith unable to guide his header on target from the resulting corner kick.

United’s captain made a vital goalline clearance just before the half-hour mark, hacking opposite number Todd Alcock’s effort away from danger.

After navigating the early pressure from the visitors, Gardner’s men sent a timely reminder of the threat they offered on the break, when Rhys Chadwick and Joe Richards linked up down the right, before a looping delivery into the area was met by Thomas, forcing Sam Lewis into a smart save to his left.

Beginning to cause problems themselves, Thomas had another sight of goal as momentum began to shift approaching half-time, seeing his well-struck effort charged down by a claret and blue shirt.

Thomas, having opened his account for the season from the spot in the opener against Stoke City last time out, was then given another opportunity from 12 yards, after Cian Coleman was clumsily bundled to the ground by Smith, leaving referee Michael Crusham with no option other than to point to the spot.

Up stepped the forward and, as coolly as you like, he sent Lewis the wrong way to put his side into the lead!

Villa immediately looked to respond and were denied by yet another sublime save from Mahady, acrobatically tipping Aidan Borland’s powerful volley over, as Crusham brought the opening half to a close.

HALF TIME: Leeds United U21 1-0 Aston Villa U21

As the second period got underway, a fine covering challenge from defender Jeremiah Mullen halted Travis Patterson’s marauding run into the area, with Alcock’s resulting in-swinging corner then crashing into the woodwork.

Mahady’s impressive evening continued moments later, getting down superbly to his left to tip Moore’s low strike away from danger, with Broggio lashing over as Villa worked the ball back into the danger zone.

Introduced at half-time, substitute Jacob Render almost extended the Whites’ lead shortly afterwards, only to be denied by fine work from Lewis in the visitors’ net as he saved with his feet from close-range.

In what was quickly becoming a scrappy affair approaching the final 20 minutes, the hosts continued to frustrate their opposition, as Moore sliced a speculative effort from distance wide of Mahady’s post.

The Scotland youth international then had to be alert as Wilson looked to profit on a fortunate deflection into the area, racing out to collect before the attacker could get a glimpse of goal.

Josep Gombau’s side levelled proceedings with just over 10 minutes left to play, when substitute Charlie Lutz reacted first to a loose ball inside the area, firing through several bodies to find the back of the net.

With both teams desperate the find a winner as the game entered its final stages, Villa captain Alcock looked to place one inside the far corner with a sweeping effort from range, but Mahady was untroubled between the posts.

Deep into stoppage time, Mahady again proved his worth to Gardner’s side, parrying Rico Richard’s curling effort away with Lutz unable to sort his feet out to meet the rebound, before he was equal to Patterson’s drive from range.

FULL TIME: Leeds United U21 1-1 Aston Villa U21