Man City Defeat For Leicester's U21s
Tawanda Maswanhise netted for the Foxes but goals from Carlos Borges, Dire Mebude and Jadel Katongo secured the points from the home side on a sweltering day in Manchester.
Ben Petty opted for the same team and system that drew with Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s on the opening day of the season, while the hosts were buoyed by their victory over Liverpool last week.
A lack of goalmouth action in the opening quarter of an hour was followed by Borges setting up Citizens captain Shea Charles for a shot from the edge of the box which took a deflection and lost all power before being collected by Chituru Odunze.
A last-ditch block was also needed to deny Josh Wilson-Esbrand when he was able to find a shooting opportunity, albeit from a tight angle on the left, and Foxes skipper Lewis Brunt was there to deny him.
The pressure that was building did lead to a Man City goal on 21 minutes. Borges timed his run perfectly off the shoulder to meet a floated ball over the top, before calmly slotting the ball inside the far post with his left foot.
There were signs that the Foxes youngsters were starting to find their way in the game and Sammy Braybrooke's mazy run almost sparked an equaliser, though he was eventually crowded out in the box.
A nasty looking head injury suffered by Iestyn Hughes led to a 15-minute delay and his departure from the field on a stretcher. Replaced by Joe Wormleighton, Leicester regrouped during the break in play and levelled the scores four minutes ahead of the interval.
Maswanhise, the man who scored and assisted against Tottenham was among the goals again in Manchester, winning possession high up and running at the defence before his shot took a deflection, looping into the top corner.
Daniel Ogwuru looked to re-establish Man City's lead but was unable to test Odunze when his powerful low shot flashed narrowly past the post.
And it could have been Leicester instead who edged ahead for the first time soon after, as Wormleighton charged down the right, playing a first-time cross that Maswanhise met, looking to double his own tally, but could not divert his volley on target.
Both teams played some free-flowing football in the first 45 minutes and that continued into the second period. Substitute Mebude showed what he was all about at the top end of the pitch, exchanging a one-two before finding himself in a shooting position. Odunze came out quickly to narrow the angle and save, however.
It wouldn't be long before the home side did regain the advantage. The goal arrived just before the hour mark as Mebude made his mark, sliding the ball into the bottom corner after latching onto a well-weighted ball through.
Oliver Ewing was introduced in place of Wanya Marcal-Madivadua with the visitors looking to respond to going behind again, but it was the Citizens who applied more pressure.
Kian Breckin broke into the box and tried to pick out Mebude, who had an empty net to aim at, but some smart defending from Wormleighton hooked the ball away.
Borges then turned provider for the lively Mebude, but this time he was unable to keep his first-time strike down, blasting it over the crossbar.
The third goal arrived from a corner routine, ending with a composed finish from another substitute, Katongo, found by Oscar Bobb's cutback with just over 20 minutes to play.
Leicester asked some questions of the Manchester City defence in the closing stages but it was ultimately too late to take anything from their trip to the north west.
A double Leicester change saw Terell Pennant and Kian Pennant brought into the action, the latter dragging shot that was comfortable for Mikki van Sas to collect, following a strong run from Will Alves.
Shortly after, Ewing cut inside, getting a shot away that was again saved by Man City's shot-stopper, well picked out from Kasey McAteer's through ball.
Major moment – Man City's quality tells
Showing good character to come back from being a goal behind, Leicester were undone by two moments of quality in the second half, which ultimately won the match for the home side.
Who impressed? – Alves excels in spells
Will Alves showed flashes of brilliance on the ball but was unable to conjure up enough to help turn the result in Leicester's favour.
Where do we stand? – Ninth position
City's youngsters sit ninth in the early standings in the 14-team league, on one point from their opening games, following the completion of matchday two.
Coming up – The Hammers
Leicester's Under-21s host West Ham United next Friday as the 2022/23 Premier League 2 Division 1 campaign continues at LCFC Training Ground (7pm BST kick-off).
The details...
City: Odunze; Hughes (Wormleighton 40'), Appiah, Brunt (c) (K. Pennant 72'), Flynn; Braybrooke, Alves; McAteer; Fitzhugh, Marcal-Madivadua (Ewing 60'); Maswanhise (T. Pennant 72').
Sub not used: Doherty.
Goal: Maswanhise 41’.
Images courtesy of Manchester City.