Post-Match Report

Match report: Arsenal U-18s 4-3 Brighton

Brighton & Hove Albion U18 -

Boreham Wood FC
FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
  Arsenal U18
      
                  Greenwood (22
                   38 pen)
                   Azeez (65)
                   Rees  (67 og)
            
   crest
Arsenal U18
Greenwood (22
38 pen)
Azeez (65)
Rees (67 og)
4 3
  Brighton & Hove Albion U18
      
              Vukoje  (36 pen)
               Tolaj (49
               80)
          
   crest
Brighton & Hove Albion U18
Vukoje (36 pen) Tolaj (49 80)

WHAT HAPPENED

Sam Greenwood scores twice as we advanced into the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup after beating Brighton & Hove Albion in a thrilling match at Meadow Park.

Our first chance of the evening fell to Ryan Alebiosu inside 10 minutes when he collected the ball in the box from a fine Miguel Azeez pass, but fired a tame effort into the arms of Roco Rees.

Our pressure paid off midway through the first half when Alebiosu opened up his body and curled an effort towards goal, Rees then parried his effort into the path of Greenwood, who slammed home.

The Seagulls were awarded a penalty when Alex Kirk brought down Lorent Tolaj inside the area, and Steff Vukoje squeezed his spot kick in to equalise.    

We immediately went on the offensive and won a penalty ourselves when Greenwood went down under a challenge inside the box. He picked himself back up and slotted expertly into the bottom corner.

Early in the second half Greenwood ran through on goal after beating the offside trap, but saw his effort saved by Rees. The visitors then hit us on the counter attack as Ted Jenks teed up Tolaj, who took a touch and fired the ball past Graczyk to the level the scores once again.

We reacted well and Azeez was rewarded for a strong performance in midfield when the ball was lofted into the box and our midfielder lost his marker and volleyed home from close range.

We then doubled our lead soon after when Ben Cottrell chipped the ball into the box, it then took a ricochet before hitting Rees and bounced into the back of the net.

The Seagulls pulled a goal back with 10 minutes remaining when they hit us on the counter attack, and much like their second goal of the evening, the ball broke to Tolaj who fired into the net.

We then survived a late onslaught to progress into the quarter-finals.

WHAT IT MEANS

Victory against the Seagulls means we progress into the quarter finals of the FA Youth Cup where we’ll face Blackburn Rovers or Preston North End away from home.

The date for the match is yet to be confirmed, but the tie must be played before February 29.

WHAT’S NEXT

Ken Gillard’s side next face Leicester City at home on Saturday, February 22 at 11.30am (UK time).

By Sam Cox

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