Man City U19 2-1 RB Leipzig U19: Player ratings as youngsters secure top spot in UEFA Youth League

Manchester City Under-19s secured top spot in their Uefa Youth League group, thanks to a 2-1 win over RB Leipzig.

The Blues had already guaranteed a place in the knockout stages of the competition, but Tuesday’s victory means first is wrapped up with a game to spare, and will see City go straight through to the last-16 and avoid the play-off round.

City were the better side in the early stages, with Joel Ndala and Justin Oboavwoduo having good chances - the latter’s effort deflected wide from a promising position.

But it was Leipzig who grabbed the first goal in the 39th minute as Jahmai Simpson-Pussey failed to deal with a long ball downfield, allowing Leipzig’s Nuha Jatta the opportunity to sprint in behind. He was felled by City keeper True Grant in the box and a penalty awarded.

Grant was somewhat fortunate to avoid a red, but had no luck saving Yannick Eduardo’s perfectly placed penalty into the bottom corner.

But City responded well in the second period, with Oboavwoduo spurning a spot from point-blank range and Kane Taylor seeing an effort cleared off the line. The hosts made their advantage count soon after, with Taylor putting City back on level terms.

The midfielder poked the ball in at the near post to finish off a sublime passing move from City, with Mahamadou Susho’s impudent flick into Taylor’s path unlocking a well-organised Leipzig defence.

At the other end, Grant twice pulled off instinctive saves at his near post to deny Eduardo from grabbing a brace, while Elias Lenz poked the ball wide from a few yards out, a chance he really should have scored from.

But it was Brian Barry-Murphy’s youngsters who were still on top, and in the 75th minute Josh Adam placed his first-time shot into the back of the net, following good work from Ndala down City’s left.

Eduardo did have one final chance in injury-time but failed to hit the target in the box, while Grant held Chilohem Onuoha's volley seconds before the full-time whistle, as City held on to a well-earned victory.

Player ratings: Grant 6; Samuel 6, Simpson-Pussey 5, Alleyne 7, Galvez 5; Susoho 8 (Noble 80), Adam 6, Taylor 7; Oboavwouduo 7 (Carrington 90+3), Heskey 5, Ndala 7.