Extra-Time Exit For City's Youngsters In PL Cup
Following a fraught 74 minutes on Filbert Way, Jack Clarke handed Villa a one-goal advantage that Yohan Benalouane’s powerful header swiftly nullified to send the tie into extra-time.
But Rushian Hepburn-Murphy's brace, which came before a George Thomas curler from 20 yards out, ultimately ended City’s intrepid cup journey at the last-four stage.
Leicester’s line-up featured four changes from Monday’s 3-1 win over Derby County, with Layton Ndukwu, Josh Eppiah and Josh Knight joining first team star Daniel Amartey in the side.
Steve Beaglehole’s Under-23s enjoyed a commanding start in front of a 1,134-strong crowd and they could have been ahead inside five minutes, as Thomas nodded Josh Gordon’s cross wide.
City defeated Villa in the Final at last May’s Hong Kong Soccer Sevens, a game Eppiah scored a brace in, and the Belgian appeared keen to repeat those exploits once again.
It was Eppiah’s running which almost forced an error at the back, with Easah Suliman losing the ball under pressure, but visiting goalkeeper Matija Šarkić raced out of his net to clean it up.
At the interval, following a worthwhile 45-minute outing, Amartey made way for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as the Ghana international continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
Villa forward Hepburn-Murphy became a real threat for the visitors, first forcing Daniel Iversen into a low save before later blazing over, despite having plenty of room in the 18-yard box.
Callum O’Hare, too, had an opportunity to break the deadlock in the 68th minute after neat interplay from his colleagues on the right flank, but Iversen did well to parry it.
The visitors eventually got a reward for their improved second half performance as O’Hare laid it on a plate for Clarke to squeeze it past Iversen at the far post on 74 minutes.
However, it took just four minutes for the Foxes to restore parity on the scoresheet as Benalouane rose highest to nod Gordon’s searching cross beyond Šarkić.
More drama was to come when substitute Admiral Muskwe, a Zimbabwe international, was felled by Šarkić on the very edge of the box.
While the referee initially signalled for a penalty, a change of heart confused matters and City were instead awarded a free-kick on the periphery of the 18-yard area.
Substitute Liandro Martis, though, was unable to find Knight at the far post and the match eventually went into extra-time, when Hepburn-Murphy rounded Iversen in the 94th minute to make it 2-1.
As City piled forwards looking for an equaliser to take the tie to penalties, Villa broke and it was Hepburn-Murphy who inflicted a fatal blow on 108, capping off another incisive move for the visitors.
Leicester’s dogged spirit manifested itself once again, though, as Thomas curled a wonderful effort into the bottom corner to narrow the arrears, but they couldn't muster another.
Major moment…
Conceding twice in extra-time was a damaging turn of events for City's chances and, despite a stellar strike from George Thomas in the 111th minute, the odds were always against them.
A shout-out must go to the spirited nature of Leicester's performance, however, as Steve Beaglehole's side refused to relent in their attempts to grab a dramatic late equaliser.
Where does it leave us?
City's youngsters exit the Premier League Cup at the semi-finals stage and they currently sit second in Premier League 2 Division 1, although results elsewhere could change matters.
Liverpool, in third, host Chelsea at Anfield on Tuesday 8 May, meaning the Foxes must wait to discover their final league position.
Coming up…
Next month, a contingent of 10 players from the Club's youth ranks will travel to Hong Kong to defend City's status as Main Cup champions at the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens.
More information about the tournament, including dates and opposition, can be found by clicking HERE.
The details…
City: Iversen, Knight, Wood, Johnson, Benalouane, Hughes (c), Eppiah (Muskwe 70), Amartey (Dewsbury-Hall 45), Gordon, Thomas, Ndukwu (Martis 75)
Subs not used: Pascanu, Yates
Goals: Benalouane 78, Thomas, 111
Villa: Šarkić, Bazeley-Graham (Borg 98), Clark, Suliman, Bedeau, Clarke, O’Hare, Doyle-Hayes, Hepburn-Murphy, Lyden (c), Blackett-Taylor (Cox 100)
Subs not used: Prosser, Watkins, Mooney
Goals: Clarke 74, Hepburn-Murphy 94, 108
Referee: Joe Hull
Attendance: 1134