Last year’s Under-17 group defeat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 at Canalside
- Young Terriers put in dominant display as they reach the Clarets Cup final
- Early goals from Ernaldo Krasniqi and Gulutte Zunda were the difference
- Jon Worthington’s group to face Burnley FC or Sheffield Wednesday in the final
Huddersfield Town’s 2019/20 Under-17 group have reached the final of the Clarets Cup after defeating Blackburn Rovers 2-0 in the semi-final.
Jon Worthington’s group were drawn against Rovers in the rearranged fixture from the 2019/20 season, and when the time came, they put in a dominant display at Canalside, scoring twice early on and keeping their opponents at bay magnificently.
From the first whistle the Young Terriers were in full flow, and made their intentions clear just four minutes in when Myles Bright struck the post. The midfielder picked the ball up in the middle of the park, carried it to the edge of the box, and had a strike at goal that unfortunately cannoned back off the woodwork.
It was only four minutes later that they did manage to take the lead through Ernaldo Krasniqi. The holding midfielder towered above every other player on the pitch to meet Luke Billam’s corner kick and planted his header past the ‘keeper.
And the Young Terriers’ electric start didn’t end there, as Gulutte Zunda managed to get the side two goals in front. The winger reacted quickest in the box after Darnel Baxter-Alleyne’s low shot also hit the post and looped a shot over the ‘keeper from close range.
There certainly could have been more goals in the first half with the Terriers coming close again through Krasniqi and Zunda in similar situations to each of their goals, however they were only just unable to put the result beyond doubt before the half-time whistle.
After the break it became a scrappy affair, with the sides locked in a midfield battle and committing several fouls each, and there were minimal chances to speak of.
The visitors had their best effort of the game just after the hour mark, crossing the ball in from the left hand side, however none of the three attackers running in to meet it were able to direct it in as it fizzed across the goal-line past goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic.
Towards the end of the tie the Young Terriers upped the intensity again looking for a third.
Brahima Diarra came closest to adding the third, missing one header and having another clawed off the goal-line by the ‘keeper from close range.
Baxter-Alleyne and Zunda also forced the ‘keeper into making two saves late on, although the two goals early on were enough to overcome the visitors and progress to Clarets Cup final.
Worthy’s group will now face either Burnley FC or Sheffield Wednesday in the final of the competition.
Town’s team (4-3-3)
Nicholas Bilokapic; Luke Billam (Charles Nduwuisi-Ondo, 69’), David Adewoju, Loick Ayina (c), Brodie Spencer; Ernaldo Krasniqi, Myles Bright, Darnel Baxter-Alleyne; Donay O’Brien-Brady (Conor Falls, 61’), Brahima Diarra, Gulutte Zunda
Unused substitutes
Josh Okpolokpo, Sonny Whittingham, Michael Stone
Goals
Ernaldo Krasniqi 8’, Gulutte Zunda 13’