Report | Leeds United U18s 1 Swansea City U18s 2 (AET)

Late drama ensured Swansea City progressed to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup thanks to a thrilling 2-1 extra-time victory over Leeds United at the LNER Community Stadium.

A last-minute goal from Billy Clarke sealed the Swans’ passage to the next round following a superb performance against a Category One academy.

Prior to the additional period the Swans had taken a deserved first-half lead through Callum Jones, with Carrick Nkinko and Callum Mills threatening shortly before the interval for the hosts.

Nkinko scored an equaliser shortly after the hour mark, but as the second half wore on it was Swansea who looked the more likely to find a winner.

They could not manage it before the original 90 minutes was up. However, Clarke slotted home in the final moments of extra time to seal a famous victory for the age-grade side.

The Swans had made the perfect start when a clearance from Brogan Popham was superbly brought under control by Jones on the halfway line. He then drove past several Leeds players before curling a fine effort into the corner to continue his excellent recent form.

Swansea continued to create chances and looked dangerous on the counter as Caio Ifans drove down the left before picking out Jones inside the area. The winger was initially stopped by the Leeds defence, but the rebound fell to Harlan Perry, who ran onto a first-time effort from outside the box that blazed over the bar.

It was Nkinko who looked the most threatening for the hosts and he went close to finding an equaliser after a slick team move saw the winger get into space on the edge of the area. Cutting onto his left foot, he looked to pick out the far corner, but his effort drifted wide.

The winger continued to cause problems down the Swansea left in the final 10 minutes of the half, taking on Popham before delivering a great ball into the back post to Mills, who found the side netting from close range.

Leeds’ best chance arrived moments later when Morris played Will Firth through down the left. The Leeds captain drove into the area and went one-on-one with Tom Wright, but his effort lacked power and was comfortably saved by the Swansea goalkeeper.

Leeds started the second half strongly, with two early chances falling to the hosts inside the opening minute. A curling effort from Nkinko crashed against the crossbar, before a follow-up strike from Mills, 15 yards out, flew over the bar.

Despite continued pressure from the hosts, Swansea looked to threaten on the counter, with Josiah Kallicharan winning the ball in midfield before playing Jones through on the break. His cross into the area was only half-cleared, falling to Alfie Jones who fired over the bar.

But the hosts got an equaliser with 25 minutes remaining after Morris fed Nkinko, who had looked dangerous throughout, on the right side of the area. The winger then unleashed a curling effort which took a deflection and crept past Wright to level the scores.

With fatigue beginning to show and the tempo dropping, the hosts were handed a golden chance to take the lead with 15 minutes remaining. Morris won the ball high up the pitch from Ben Phillips and raced through on goal, but Wright did well to make himself big and produce a crucial save with his foot.

The Swans looked the more likely to find a winner in normal time, with Callum Jones going close after being played in down the left by Perry only to see his effort hit the side netting.

Perry then delivered a cross into the area that Leeds failed to clear. The ball deflected off a defender and bobbled just past the post for a corner to ensure extra time was required.

Leeds forward Mills carved out the only chance of the first period, with his curling effort turned around the post by Wright.

But it was the Swans who would claim victory in dramatic fashion as Clarke won the ball high up the pitch before summoning the energy to drive past three Leeds defenders and slot the ball into the corner of the net beyond Oliver Wood.

The hosts were then reduced to 10 men after Kenneth Mensah was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Harvey Gray as the Swans claimed another notable scalp.

Leeds United Under 18s: Oliver Wood, Will Firth (Aiden Thompson 115’), Louie Philpott, Loui Whitehead, Luke Matykiewicz, Jacob Howard (Elton Simo 110’), Carrick Nkinko (Louie Dudley 109’), Samuel Alker, Jack Morris, Callum Mills, Kenneth Mensah.

Substitutes not used: Josh Woolfrey, Jacob Watson, Isaac Bridge, Joe Bhaskaran. 

Swansea City Under 18s: Tom Wright, Billy Clark, Caio Ifans (Kaven Bloniarczyk 90’), Carter Heywood (Bobo Evans 90’), Brogan Popham, Ben Phillips (Jack May 112’), Kai Rhodes (Harvey Gray 67’), Harlan Perry ©, Josiah Kallicharan (Alex Godfrey 67’), Alfie Jones (Lukas Murphy 117’), Callum Jones.

Substitutes not used: Jakub Nowak.