By Tatiana Bellometti
WHAT HAPPENED
Xavier Amaechi scored twice as our under-18s started their FA Youth Cup campaign with a 2-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday night.
We piled on the pressure early on as Tyreece John-Jules fired a low shot into the Owls goalkeeper’s arms and then Amaechi scuffed a chance not long afterwards.
Just after the quarter-hour mark, Amaechi put us into the lead when he got on the end of an excellent through ball by Robbie Burton to slot home.
Amaechi then struck again to put us two goals to the good at the break with an impressive finish.
In the second half, Walker made a brilliant save to deny us in the opening moments before his opposite number, Joao Virginia was called on to make a sharp save.
The home side came close again as Trae Coyle threaded a ball through to Saka but he could not take his chance.
Wednesday pulled one back though at the end as Liam Smith headed in, but we held on to reach the fourth round.
WHAT IT MEANS
The win means we have sealed our progress into the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.
WHAT'S NEXT
We travel to Aston Villa on January 6. The last time the two sides met in August, it provided us with our first victory of the season, courtesy of a James Olayinka’s first-half strike.
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