Charlton 1 Leeds United 0
Charlton’s U21s made it two wins from two in Group I of the Premier League Cup on Friday evening. Chris Lock’s side secured a 1-0 victory over Leeds United following an excellent performance at Princes Park.
The visitors got the game underway.
Reuben Reid had the first chance of the game inside three minutes as he got the better the Leeds defence. He bowed down on goal but blazed his shot over the bar.
Minutes later, George Hardy denied Leeds from opening the scoring as he came off his line at just the right time to thwart Samuel Alker’s shot.
Ellis McMillan’s fine form in front of goal continued as he fired the young Addicks ahead on 20 minutes. He caught the ball sweetly on the edge of the area, which went beyond Rory Mahady and nestled into the top corner.
Although goal mouth action was at a premium throughout the first half, Charlton’s U21s put in a disciplined performance.
Jayden Lienou came close to levelling for the away team, when the ball fell to him just outside the box. He struck his effort with pace, but it took a wicked deflection and went behind for a corner.
McMillan had a chance to double the Addicks’ lead just before the break, but his effort was deflected, taking enough pace off the shot to prevent it from troubling the goalkeeper.
Charlton’s U21s went into half time a goal to the good.
Not long into the second half, Reid forced Mahady to react quickly in goal as he pushed away his long-range strike.
Nehmani McNamee-Burke played a dangerous cross into the box that was headed agonisingly wide by Shia-Lee Burnham.
Alker came close to levelling the scoring for the visitors when Rhys Chadwick fizzed a great ball into the area. The Leeds forward met it well, but his effort rattled the crossbar and bounced clear.
McNamee-Burke came alive in the second half for the Addicks and was at the heart of the action. He fired the ball with pace towards the goal, and Mahady produced an excellent save to tip it around the post.
The home side continued to test the Leeds goalkeeper, with Reid trying his luck from distance once again.
Chris Lock made a double change on 73 minutes. Jacob Safa and McNamee-Burke made way for Sam Washington-Amoah and Dionte Davis.
Davis had an immediate impact after being introduced and swung an excellent free kick towards the back post that Tate Elliott rose highest to, but his effort flashed across the face of goal.
The young Addicks were rewarded for their controlled performance as they came away with all three points, making it two wins from two in Group I of the Premier League Cup.
Charlton’s U21s are next in action on Sunday, September 13th, when they travel to south Yorkshire to take on Sheffield Wednesday’s U21s (12pm BST).
Charlton: Hardy; Valentine, Minto-St Aimie, McNamee-Burke (Davis 73); Brown (c), Elliott, Belton, Safa (Washington-Amoah 73); McMillan, Burnham, Reid
Subs (not used): Lapper, Thomas, Podgorny, Rayment-Dawkins, Tiitinen
Goal: McMillan 20
Booked: Burnham 24, Reid 57, Belton 67
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