Stubborn AEK Athens hold City to UEFA Youth League draw

AEK were first to pounce in front of goal through Dimitrios Sioutas, but City fired back an instant response as Dexter Oliver fed the ball into Teddie Lamb, who fired across the goalkeeper and into the far corner. 

Oliver Reiss’ side dominated possession throughout and carved our several chances to snap up three points but it just wasn’t happening for the Blues with the Greek outfit proving difficult to break down.

Dexter Oliver had a couple of late opportunities but in the end the draw meant we recorded our first point in the European competition.

What Happened

It was an afternoon of firsts at the Joie Stadium as we faced AEK Athens for the first ever occasion.

But it would be no easy feat as our opponents came into the clash boasting an unbeaten run in the UEFA Youth League with City chasing our first victory. 

In what promised to be an exciting head-to-head it was a fiery beginning as the Greek side created and converted the first opportunity on five minutes leaving Oliver Reiss’ side needing to find a way back into the tie after the Sioutas opener.

And it would be none other than hotshot Lamb who would fire home the equaliser just two minutes later, taking his tally to two in the competition after finding the net in our opening game against FC Porto. 

The Blues didn’t stop there and we pushed to go ahead with a Finlay Gorman free-kick hitting the crossbar. 

Reiss’ side were commanding with the ball and managed to quieten our opponents’ attacks after the early goal.

But the hosts were unable to find a way ahead in the tie as the half-time whistle blew.

The second-half got off to a slow start and as we hit the hour mark in Manchester neither side had managed to force a lead. 

A half chance from Lamb was the closest opportunity while Marlow Barrett glanced a header wide from a corner.

The visitors continued to sit back and put up a brick wall in defence to stop City in our tracks.

Oliver saw a chance from the edge of the box in the dying minutes go just wide and it would be our last chance of the game as we recorded our first point in the competition.

How we lined up

CITY XI | Chabot, Nfonkeu (79’ Lawrie), Drake (C), Barrett, Headley, Miles, Gorman, Oliver, Lamb, Parker (77’ Woode), T. Samba

SUBS | Vickery, Nduka, Carrington, Midwood 

AEK Athens XI | Ioannou , Rinnis, Tampakoglou, Filippiadis, Frantzeskakis (90’ Georgiou), Gkolfinos (73’ Stergiaropoulos), Sioutas (46’ Tsantilas), Amanatidis (77’ Pontikis), Skakic, Psyropoulos (C), Argyriou (90’ Tsaramanidis)

SUBS | Vazintaris, Ntampizas, Marinos, Amaoutis

AS A RESULT

City record our first point in the UEFA Youth League after three matches, but we still have three more to play.

In order to qualify for the knockout stage of the competition, Reiss and his team will need to place in the top 22 of the 36-team league.

We currently sit 31st with our opponents in 12th.

The knockout stage includes a Round of 32, Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final, with the team able to win all five games to be crowned the best Academy team in Europe.

Up next

City return to the Premier League 2 as we face Stoke on Friday, October 23.

Kick-off at the Joie Stadium is set for 19:00 (UK) - and the game is live on CITY+.