U18s Report & Highlights: Palace dispatch Leeds to keep PL Cup defence alive

Donte Martin opened the scoring with an acrobatic finish in the 11th minute before Raihaan Anderson doubled Palace’s advantage with a close-range header shortly afterwards, capping an excellent first-half display in which the Young Eagles created numerous chances.

Martin struck again on the hour mark, calmly chipping the advancing ’keeper to put Palace firmly in control. The Young Eagles continued to push for more but ultimately had to settle for three goals and a clean sheet, securing a valuable Group C victory to keep their title defence alive.

Attention now turns to a decisive final group fixture against Aston Villa, with victory giving Palace a strong chance of progressing to the knockout stages.

Summary:

• Javier Alonso makes four changes, including Bull’s first appearance of the season after a lengthy injury lay-off.
• 2: Palace have the first sight of goal, but Anderson’s strike is straight at the ‘keeper.
• 7: Wood diverts Martin’s first-time effort onto the post in a one-on-one.
• 9: Fasida’s header is comfortably gathered.
• 10: Greaves lashes a powerful strike over the bar from just inside the area.
• 11 – GOAL: Martin acrobatically turns home Lamidi’s effort to give Palace the lead.
• 15 – GOAL: Anderson powers home a bullet header from close range to double Palace’s advantage.
• 17: Anderson’s appeals for a penalty are waved away.
• 19: Wood palms away Martin’s tightly angled effort from the right of the area.
• 21: Martin is denied one-on-one once more.
• 24: Lamidi fires high over the bar.
• 30: Palace continue to apply relentless pressure on the Leeds backline.
• 38: Anderson stings Wood’s palms with a fierce strike from the edge of the area.
• 41: Martin miscues over the bar from a few yards out…
• Half-time: Palace U18s 2-0 Leeds U18s
• 47: Anderson drags Martin’s cut-back wide of the mark.
• 49: Martin aims for the far top corner but curls his effort wide.
• 54: Anderson comes close to a third, his effort grazing the near post.
• 57: Greaves latches onto Kalembo’s through ball but can’t find the empty net…
• 61 – GOAL: Martin races clear on goal and expertly lifts the ball over the advancing ‘keeper.
• 70: Alonso introduces more attacking firepower from the bench.
• 75: Wood makes a good save at his near post to deny Greaves.
• 85: Williams swivels and fires over the bar from close range.
• Three minutes are added on…
• Full-time: Palace U18s 3-0 Leeds U18s

After a three-week international break, Palace returned to Premier League Cup action knowing defeat could end their title defence.

The Young Eagles opened Group C with a narrow 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest, while Leeds and Aston Villa played out a six-goal thriller.

With only the group winners reaching the quarter-finals, Javier Alonso’s side needed a result to keep their hopes alive after their stirring comeback from three goals down to draw 3-3 with Fulham.

Fresh from England U17s duty, Lucca Benetton returned in goal in place of Rosen Modev. Hugo Bull also made his first appearance of the season after a lengthy injury lay-off, partnering Remi Shittu in central defence as Dylan Monk and Alfie Mulvenna made way. Nat Kalembo replaced Kwasi Baah at full-back, while Jamar Lee came in for Arthur O’Keefe in the No. 10 role.

At a sun-drenched Academy, Palace made a blistering start, immediately putting Leeds under pressure as Dotun Lamidi forced a turnover high up the pitch before squaring for Anderson, whose tame effort was straight at Oliver Wood.

The Young Eagles were soon turning the screw. Martin was slipped in behind the Leeds defence, but Wood raced off his line to divert the forward’s first-time effort onto the post.

Jacob Fasida’s subsequent header was comfortably gathered, before AJ Greaves lashed a powerful strike narrowly over the crossbar.

Having weathered wave after wave of Palace attack, Leeds finally succumbed on 11 minutes.

Fasida whipped in a set-piece from the left, and although Leeds cleared the initial delivery, Lamidi drove the loose ball back towards goal for Martin to acrobatically turn home at the far post and cap Palace’s dominant start.

Alonso’s side wasted little time in extending their advantage, with Anderson doubling the lead just minutes later. Martin worked the ball out wide to Greaves, who delivered a sumptuous cross across the face of goal for the onrushing Anderson to power home with a close-range header.

Two goals to the good, Palace showed little inclination to ease off. Anderson saw his appeals for a penalty waved away before Martin twice threatened to extend the lead, first forcing Wood into a superb diving save from the right of the area, then being denied again one-on-one.

The Young Eagles continued to dictate the tempo, winning possession back quickly and keeping Leeds pinned in their own half as they pushed for a third.

On the stroke of half-time, Anderson stung Wood’s palms with a fierce strike from the edge of the area. Moments later, Nat Kalembo drove forward and fed Greaves, whose low ball across goal saw Martin miscue over the bar, although the offside flag sparred his blushes.

Palace had dominated the first half and could have led by more than two, but their recent collapse against Tottenham – surrendering a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 – served as a reminder that the job was far from done heading into the break…

Palace emerged for the second half with the same attacking intent, and Martin was quickly involved again, holding the ball up well before cutting it back for Anderson, who dragged his effort wide. Martin then tried his luck from distance, looking to curl a shot into the far top corner, but sent it over the crossbar.

The Young Eagles were soon threatening again on the counter-attack. Anderson drove into the penalty area at pace and came agonisingly close to finding the net, his effort grazing the near post as Palace searched for a third.

Kalembo continued to impress with his marauding runs and incisive distribution from the back. Approaching the hour mark, he threaded a pass through to Greaves, whose persistence took him clear on goal. With Wood exposed, the winger attempted to find the empty net, but a recovering Leeds defender got back to block his effort.

Having seen his side surrender a two-goal lead against Tottenham just weeks earlier, Alonso knew the importance of the next goal.

After weathering a spell of Leeds pressure, Palace struck swiftly on the break once more, with Martin sent clean through on goal. Showing superb composure, he lifted the ball over the advancing Wood to put the Young Eagles firmly in control.

The third goal did little to diminish Palace’s appetite for more. They continued to dictate possession and territory, moving the ball with confidence as Alonso turned to his bench in search of fresh impetus.

Among those introduced were Toby Williams, Kayden Moses and U16 attacking talent Nas Campbell, with the changes bringing further energy to Palace’s forward play.

A series of goalmouth scrambles followed, but the hosts could not find the finishing touch. Greaves came closest to adding a fourth, only for Wood to produce an excellent save at his near post.

Palace continued to push in the closing stages. Moses drove into the box before pulling the ball back for Williams, who struck on the turn but sent his effort just over the crossbar.

At the other end, Benetton was finally called into action when Joe Bhaskaran tried his luck from outside the area, but the 16-year-old 'keeper gathered comfortably.

Daniel Owoade then fizzed a ball across the face of goal at the other end, only for Moses to miscue his finish wide, before Greaves tested Wood once more with a powerful strike straight at the 'keeper.

Three minutes of added time passed before the final whistle confirmed a valuable victory for Palace, keeping their hopes of defending the U18 Premier League Cup firmly alive.

With Aston Villa having beaten Nottingham Forest 6-0, Palace sit level on three points with Forest in Group C, ahead on goal difference with one fixture remaining. Victory over Villa on Saturday, 7th November would put the Young Eagles in a strong position to reach the knockout stages.

For now, Alonso’s side can take confidence from a dominant display and their first victory since the opening day of the U18 Premier League South campaign, when they beat West Ham United.

Palace XI: Benetton (GK); Lamidi (Mulvenna, 86), Bull, Shittu, Kalembo (Owoade, 67); Fasida, Bonsu-Amako; Anderson (Campbell, 74), Lee (Moses, 66), Greaves; Martin (Williams, 74).

Subs not used: Trialist, Baah.

Leeds United: Wood (GK); Walker, Morrall, Whitehead, Megson, Mensah, Mensah, Heywood (Thompson, 55), Bennett, Ibrovic-Fletcher (Waitling, 85), Bhaskaran.

Subs not used: Linley, Thompson, Dyson, Alker, Warburton.