Our under-21s cruised to victory in Yorkshire, thrashing Leeds United 4-0 to make it back-to-back wins and clean sheets in the Premier League 2.

We took the lead in the final moments of a tight first half when Demiane Agustien latched onto Charles Sagoe Jr’s cutback to score from close range.

Theo Julienne doubled our lead seven minutes into the second half with a stunning individual goal, before Marli Salmon made it three and Augstien added the fourth.

WHAT HAPPENED

After a cagey start from both sides, Sam Chambers and Jayden Lienou forced strong saves from Tommy Setford from the edge of the penalty area as Leeds started to find their feet.

The Whites were unfortunate not to take the lead after fifteen minutes when Tommy Setford made an outstanding save and the hosts hit the post during a scramble in the six yard box.

Our first chance of the game came ten minutes later when Charles Sagoe Jr made a fantastic darting run into the penalty area, only to see his powerful effort blocked in front of goal.  

Leeds thought they’d taken the lead with ten minutes of the first half to play, but Chambers’ goal was ruled out because Lienou had set up the chance from an offside position.

After a half of solid defending, we made the breakthrough just before half-time when Sagoe Jr made another powerful run into the penalty area, this time picking out Agustien to fire home from close range.

The hosts started the second half on the front foot and almost equalised with their first attempt after the break when Ollie Pickles clipped the crossbar with a well-struck effort from 20 yards.

But we hit back to double our lead moments later when Theo Julienne scored an outstanding solo goal, weaving his way past three Leeds defenders before placing his effort into the bottom corner.

Leeds responded well to conceding a second goal, but we killed off any chance of a comeback for the home side with a third goal against the run of play, Marli Salmon finding the far corner from Augstien’s corner.

Having set up the third, Agustien scored the fourth, rounding off a brilliant team move with an emphatic finish from close range to seal a memorable victory at the LNER Community Stadium.

WHAT IT MEANS

A dominant victory over the Whites takes us into the Premier League 2 playoff places with a game in hand on several of the teams around us.

Sunday’s 4-0 success also marks our under-21s biggest win of the season so far.

WHAT’S NEXT

Our under-21s return to Mangata Developments Stadium on Friday, January 6 for a Premier League 2 home fixture against Everton.

Kick-off in north London is scheduled for 7pm (UK time).

LINE-UPS

Leeds XI: Mahady, Enahoro-Marcus (Firth, 58’), Lienou, Cresswell, Lane, Howard, Pickles (Mills, 89’), McDonald (Pire, 89’), Whitehead (Bird, 67’), Chambers, Chadwick

Subs (not used): Ombang

Arsenal XI: Setford, Hamill, Salmon, Clarke, Ogunnaike (Washington, 85’), Ibrahim, Julienne, Augstien (Marciniak, 83’), Bailey-Joseph (Stevens, 72’), Harriman-Annous (Zecevic-John, 72’), Sagoe Jr

Subs (not used): Porter
 

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