Crystal Palace U18

English U18 Premier League Cup

Crystal Palace

Premier League

Leeds United

Elland Road

Tottenham Hotspur

Selhurst Park

Fulham

Sheffield United U18

Total shots

Shots on target

Corners

Passes completed

Free kicks

Offsides

## Summary

- Rob Quinn made five changes to the side which beat Chelsea

- Palace took the lead half an hour in through a Junior Dixon penalty

- The hosts equalised just before half-time through Owen Hampson

- **Half-time: Sheffield United 1-1 Crystal Palace**

- Caleb Kporha nearly made an instant impact off the bench in the 70th minute

- Hampson had a chance to put The Blades ahead with 10 minutes to go, but Laurie Shala charged his effort down

- Asher Agbinone netted the winner for Palace five minutes from time

- **Full-time: Sheffield United 1-2 Crystal Palace**

U18 Match Highlights: Sheffield United 1-2 Crystal Palace

A week on from the last-gasp 3-2 victory over Chelsea in the league, the young Eagles were on the road to face Sheffield United in their second Under 18 Premier League Cup fixture.

Rob Quinn made five changes to the side which beat Chelsea, with Laurie Shala, Kalani Barton, Trialist, Basilio Socoliche and Asher Agbinone coming in for Jackson Izquierdo, Caleb Kporha, Vonnte Williams, Zach Marsh and Adler Nascimento.

The two sides effectively cancelled each other out in the opening quarter of the game. Laurie Shala had one save to make, dealing with a long range effort from Sam Aston with relative ease.

On the half-hour mark, the game sprung into life as Agbinone went on a surging run down the left flank. The Palace forward was brought down just inside the box and a penalty was awarded.

The in-form Junior Dixon stepped up from 12-yards and slotted home past Callum Yam in the Sheffield United goal for his eighth of the season.

The hosts looked to equalise after falling behind and nearly did so just a few minutes after kicking off. Owen Hampson went on a mazy run through the centre of the park, though the Palace defence stood firm to prevent him getting a shot away.

Hampson did manage to find an equaliser for the Blades just before half-time. A ball across the box from Johnny Oluleye fell right into Hampson’s stride and the striker found the back of the net from close range.

Both sides came racing out the blocks in the second-half looking to take the lead. Agbinone played in skipper Freddie Bell on the edge of the box, but the Palace midfielder’s goal bound shot was blocked early on in the half.

With 20 minutes remaining, substitute Caleb Kporha nearly made an instant impact off the bench. Fellow substitute, and September’s Goal of the Month winner, Vonnte Williams floated a ball into the box that was only cleared out as far as Kporha - who saw his effort on the volley palmed behind by Yam.

The Blades’ best effort of the half came with 10 minutes remaining through their goalscorer Hampson, who was slipped in behind by George Dickson, however Laurie Shala charged off his goal line to deny the striker’s effort.

Just five minutes of normal time remained when Palace took the lead. A ball swept in across the Sheffield United defence from Jake Grante bounced past everyone into the path of Agbinone. The forward took a touch, opened his body and calmly slotted past the onrushing Yam to give Palace the lead.

Palace held on through four minutes of stoppage time, and a late effort from Aston, to secure their second win the Under 18 Premier League Cup Group D and their sixth successive win in all competitions. 

The result means Quinn’s side now sit top of Group D, three points clear of The Blades and rivals Brighton & Hove Albion with one game remaining.

**Sheffield United:** Yam, Waldron, Drake, Staniland, Pitan, Okyere, Aston, Dickson, Oluleye (Havenhand, 75), Hampson, Clarke.

Subs not used: Hewitson, Ly, Haughton-Parris, Ciccarelli.

**Crystal Palace:** Shala, Barton, Grante, Jemide, Trialist (Williams, 57), Bell, Austin (Kporha, 70), Gibbard, Socoliche (Marsh, 57), Dixon, Agbinone (Marroni, 89).

Subs not used: Eastwood.

(*Photo credit: Simon Davies - Manchester United)*

Crystal Palace Under-18s secured their sixth straight win in all competitions thanks to a late Asher Agbinone winner against Sheffield United.

U18s Report: Late Agbinone winner seals sixth straight win for Palace

Sheffield United U18 v Crystal Palace U18 (2022-10-08)

Rob Quinn’s side will begin their U18 PL Cup campaign with a tough test against fierce rivals Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend on Saturday, 3rd September (KO: 11:00 BST). You can watch this game LIVE on Palace TV+. [Click here to choose a subscription](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/supporters/palace-tv-plus/).

U18 Premier League North side Leeds United are new opposition for the young Eagles, as are Sheffield United who compete in the U18 Professional Development League.

Broadcasting details for those games will be confirmed in due course.

## Fixtures

### Brighton & Hove Albion

- Saturday, 3rd September

- CPFC Academy

- 11:00 BST

- LIVE on Palace TV+

### Sheffield United

- Saturday, 8th October

- Sheffield United Football Academy

- 13:00 BST

### Leeds United

- Saturday, 5th November

- Thorp Arch Grange

- 12:00 BST

*Please note: fixtures are subject to change.*

## Competition format

- Group stage: Seven groups of four teams, with clubs playing each other once in the group stage, either home or away.

- The seven group winners and the best runner-up, decided by total points and then goal difference followed by head-to-head record, will advance to the quarter-finals.

- Knockout ties are all one-off matches, decided by extra-time if level after 90 minutes and then penalties if required.

The Premier League Cup isn’t the only competition that Palace’s Academy are competing in this season, the Under-21s are also travelling to [face League 1 and League 2 opposition in the Papa John’s Trophy](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/academy/crystal-palace-under-21s-efl-trophy-opponents-revealed/2022-06-23/).

Crystal Palace Under-18s will face Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds United and Sheffield United in Group D of the Premier League Cup this season.

Palace Under-18s’ Premier League Cup opponents revealed

Crystal Palace U18 v Brighton and Hove Albion U18 (2022-09-03)

Leeds United U18 v Crystal Palace U18 (2022-11-05)

English U18 Premier League CupSheffield United Football Academy

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Sheffield United U18 1 Crystal Palace U18 2

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U18s Report: Late Agbinone winner seals sixth straight ...

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