U21s Report & Highlights: Nascimento scores hat-trick in emphatic Leeds win

Palace came from behind to take control at Thorp Arch, with Nascimento scoring twice to turn the game around after Leeds took an early lead. The in-form forward then completed his hat-trick five minutes after the restart before 15-year-old Nat Kalembo fired home a stunning long-range effort to seal a superb 4-1 victory.

Harry Lee made a string of excellent saves to keep Leeds at bay, while Chuks Okoli was sent off late on. The win ends a run of three successive defeats in all competitions for Darren Powell’s side, who return to winning ways in Premier League 2!

Summary:

• King replaces the suspended Majni, Benamar returns after travelling with the first team to Lyon, and Gozo comes in for the suspended Sealey.
• 3: Benamar almost releases Nascimento through on goal...
• 9: Chadwick lifts his effort over the unguarded goal from range.
• 10 – GOAL: Mills sweeps home Pickles’ cut-back to put Leeds ahead.
• 12: Gibbard’s dangerous low cross flashes across the face of goal, bisecting Nascimento and Gozo.
• 16: Lee produces a fine save to deny Nijinko's prodded close range volley.
• 18: Lee tips Chadwick’s strike from the edge of the area around the post.
• 20: Lee gets down sharply to parry Pickles’ low drive from distance.
• 22 – GOAL: Nascimento punishes a loose pass to race through and slot home the equaliser.
• 32 – GOAL: Nascimento converts from the spot to complete Palace’s turnaround.
• 34: Gozo fires narrowly wide after bursting down the left channel.
• 37: Lee makes another crucial one-on-one save to deny Alker.
• 44: Nascimento drags a golden chance wide as he closes in on his hat-trick.
• Two minutes of added time are indicated...
• Half-time: Leeds United U21s 1–2 Crystal Palace U21s.
• 50 – GOAL: Nascimento completes his hat-trick with a first-time finish from Williams’ cut-back!
• 58: Lee makes two superb saves in quick succession to deny Alker.
• 61 – GOAL: 15-year-old Kalembo fires a stunning long-range strike into the top corner!
• 72: Angibeaud’s angled effort is tipped behind by the 'keeper.
• 80: Angibeaud heads over from an inswinging corner.
• 85: Gozo cuts inside and fires narrowly wide of the far post.
• 87 – RED CARD: Okoli is sent off for pulling back a Leeds attacker through on goal.
• 88: Leeds strike the crossbar with the resulting free-kick.
• Four minutes of added time are indicated...
• Full-time: Leeds United U21s 1–4 Crystal Palace U21s

After three successive defeats, including Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to Anderlecht in the Premier League International Cup, Darren Powell made three changes as Palace U21s sought a return to winning ways at Leeds.

George King replaced the suspended Taha Majni on the right of a back three, while Dean Benamar returned from first-team duty in Lyon to take up the left wing-back role in place of Caleb Kporha. First-team star Zavier Gozo also came into the right of the front three for the suspended Amaari Sealey.

At a sun-drenched Thorp Arch, the opening exchanges were scrappy, but Palace threatened inside three minutes when Benamar surged forward and looked to slip Nascimento through on goal. The forward went to ground under a challenge, however, and the Young Eagles’ appeals for a free-kick were waved away.

With chances at a premium, the visitors nearly gifted Leeds the opener when Harry Lee’s loose pass fell kindly for Rhys Chadwick, who lifted his effort over the bar with the goal unguarded.

The reprieve proved brief, as Callum Mills swept home Oliver Pickles’ cut-back on 10 minutes to put the hosts ahead.

Palace came under sustained pressure in the aftermath, but Lee kept his side in the contest with an outstanding spell between the sticks approaching the 20-minute mark.

The ‘keeper produced three excellent diving saves in quick succession to deny Carrick Njinko, Chadwick and Pickles, while commanding his area to deal confidently with a succession of threatening crosses.

Those interventions proved crucial as Palace hit back against the run of play to draw level. Nascimento charged down Alfie Cresswell’s tame pass, dispossessed Louis Enahoro on the edge of the area and raced through one-on-one before slotting past the ‘keeper into the far corner.

Nascimento was soon celebrating again as Palace completed their turnaround entering the final third. Gozo picked out the onrushing Joe Gibbard on the edge of the area, where the midfielder was brought down attempting to reach the pull-back, prompting the referee to point straight to the spot.

Nascimento stepped up and fired into the bottom corner, beating the ‘keeper despite the Leeds stopper guessing the right way.

With the momentum firmly in their favour, Palace pushed for a third. Gozo burst down the left and unleashed a fierce effort that flew narrowly wide, before Lee produced another important one-on-one save at the other end to preserve the visitors’ lead.

Nascimento came agonisingly close to completing his hat-trick before the break when Williams squared across the box to find him in acres of space, but the forward dragged his finish wide of the far post, leaving Palace with a 2-1 advantage at half-time after a superb turnaround!

Nascimento completed his hat-trick five minutes into the second half, though, lashing home first-time from the edge of the area after a neat give-and-go between Kalembo and Williams.

The Young Eagles continued to threaten, stretching Leeds with a succession of crosses from both flanks as they searched for a fourth.

On the hour mark, Lee produced two sharp reaction saves in quick succession to deny Samuel Alker and preserve Palace’s two-goal cushion.

Moments later, the visitors extended their advantage in spectacular fashion. Williams’ side-footed free-kick from the left was cleared only as far as 15-year-old Kalembo, who took aim from distance and guided a sumptuous strike into the top corner.

With Palace firmly in control, Powell withdrew both goalscorers midway through the half, introducing David Angibeaud and Caleb Kporha in their place.

Leeds enjoyed a prolonged spell of pressure as the half wore on, forcing Palace to weather a storm, although Lee was rarely troubled as the visitors defended their advantage.

Angibeaud offered a threat on the counter as the game entered its final third, racing onto a through ball and driving into the area before seeing his angled effort beaten away by the goalkeeper. The substitute went close again moments later, attacking an inswinging corner but sending his header just over the crossbar.

After a quieter spell, the closing stages sprang back to life as Gozo cut inside from the left and unleashed a powerful effort that flew over the bar, narrowly missing the top corner.

At the other end, Chuks Okoli was shown a straight red card for pulling back a Leeds attacker through on goal, with the resulting free-kick crashing against the crossbar.

That proved to be the final action as Palace secured a commanding 4-1 victory, ending their run of three successive defeats in all competitions. The result lifted the Young Eagles to 14th in the 31-team Premier League 2 table, level on seven points with Reading, Leeds and Brentford.

Palace U21s XI: Lee (GK); Somade, Okoli, King; Benamar, Williams, Danaher (Adams-Collman, 84), Kalembo (Kporha, 63); Gibbard (Martin, 84), Nascimento (Angibeaud, 63), Gozo (Whyte, 90).

Subs not used: Hill, Fasida.

Leeds United U21s XI: Cook, Lane, Lienou, Cresswell, Enahoro, Alker (McDonald, 64), Chadwick, Njinko (Hodja, 64), Pickles, Mills, Philpott.

Subs not used: Ombang, Egan-Riley, Matykiewicz.