Posh U21s fall to defeat in the opening game of the Premier League Cup group stage.
A last-minute goal in injury-time from Duncan Idehen condemned Peterborough United U21s to a narrow 4-3 defeat to Bristol City on Friday evening in the opening game of the Premier League Cup group stage.
Posh broke the deadlock on 14 minutes as Kai Corbett sent a free-kick from the left of the edge of the box into the bottom corner at the near-post. Jake West was called into action, pushing a free-kick around the post.
Gabe Overton doubled their lead just six minutes later as James Dornelly’s long ball forward found Overton, he advanced into the box before calmly slotting the ball home past the goalkeeper. The hosts pulled a goal back on 37 minutes as a corner was headed home by Raphael Araoye.
Posh were forced into a change just before the break as Overton was replaced by Dennis Kelmendi. The Robins found the equaliser on the stroke of half-time as Harry Lesson cross found Callum Hutton, his effort was blocked but Marlee Francois smashed home the rebound.
Seven minutes into the second half, and The Robins took the lead as Emmanuel Fernandez was caught in possession by Kai Churchley, he advanced into the box and made no mistake from close-range.
The under 21s were then down to 10-men on 55 minutes as James Dornelly received a second yellow card. However, it was Posh who grew into the game and brought the scores level on 67 minutes as Harry Titchmarsh’s low-driven effort from the edge of the box found the back of the net via the inside of the post.
Posh pushed for the winner as Corbett tried his luck from distance, but his effort went over the bar. But, It was late heartbreak for the youngsters as The Robins claimed the victory in the fourth minute of added time, with Idehen curling a low effort into the bottom corner.
U21s Lead Professional Development Phase Coach, Ryan semple, said: “We went into a two-nil lead, a really well-taken free-kick from Kai [Corbett] and then the second was a good counter-attack move and finished calmly by Gabe [Overton]. However, we conceded from a set piece which was disappointing and just equalised before the break.
“In the second half, they were some good performances and we moved the ball really well, but were hampered with a red card and were very much up against it. The players were their socks off after that to get themselves back into the game and got the goal, with a well-taken finish from Harry [Titchmarsh]. Although, to concede in the 95th minute from another set-piece was really disappointing but there were definitely positives to take and some good individual performances.”
Posh XI: West, Dornelly, Arthur, Fernandez, Mills, Challinor, Titchmarsh, Kawa, O’Brien-Brady, Corbett, Overton.
Subs: Kelmendi, Chiha, Bodnar, Powell, Dreyer.