2-1 against Newcastle United- U19s though to Youth League knockout phase for the first time

Head coach Kevin Brok made three changes to his starting XI compared with the 8-1 away win at FSV Frankfurt at the end of the preliminary league round last weekend: Jesper Schlich moved back between the posts for Julian Leuchter, while Osman Turay and Ivan Massek also started in place of Nils Gernhardt and Marton Szep. The Werkself needed a win or a draw to progress to the knockout phase, while Newcastle United went into the game with no points and no chance of progressing.

Culbreath puts Werkself one up before half-time

After a cautious opening phase for both sides, Montrell Culbreath created the first chance of the game for Bayer 04 (12’). Leverkusen then further increased the pressure: Culbreath was unfortunately just offside shortly before his shot (16'), Emmanuel Chigozie Owen also missed (17', 21'). In the meantime, Seungsoo Park had the first shot for Newcastle United (19’), while Sean Neave had the best chance for the visitors from England with his effort from outside the box (43’). It looked as though the game would go into the break goalless - until the third minute of stoppage time. Chigozie Owen crossed again from the right, which the impressive Culbreath converted with his head to give the home side a 1-0 lead. Half-time came shortly after that.

Pohl extends lead - Newcastle pull one back

The second half began evenly and uneventfully in front of both goals. Then, from a Leverkusen corner, the English side were unable to clear the ball and it ended up with Ferdinand Pohl. The centre-back, who had moved up, simply shot on the turn and netted in the far corner to make it 2-0 (52'). The Werkself were now much livelier than in the first half. Jeremiah Mensah and Pohl had a double chance (62') before Newcastle substitute Kyle Fitzgerald reduced the deficit at 2-1 virtually out of the blue ten minutes later. Nothing more eventful followed, in part because the home side were solid at the back. At the final whistle, the Leverkusen youngsters were able to celebrate their historic first appearance in the knockout phase of Europe's most prestigious youth competition.

coming up: knockout phase draw on friday

2025 is now over for the Bayer 04 U19s in terms of fixtures. The draw on Friday afternoon, 12 December (from 15:30 CET) at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, will decide who the Leverkusen youngsters face in the Youth League Round of 32. The Werkself will play the knockout round, which does not include a second leg, at the beginning of February and definitely away from home.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Schlich - Domnic, Pohl, Hawighorst, Turay - N. Mensah, Berghoff (Kir 80’) - Culbreath, J. Mensah (Szép 89’), Massek (Datené 80’) - Chigozie Owen (Ermec 70’)

Newcastle United: Dowell - Shahar, Moran, Watts, Bryant (Charlton 28’) - Alabi (Miley 64’), Neave, Finneran - Ferreira (Fitzgerald 64’), Brayson (Wooster 64’), Park (Pinnington 80’)

Goals: 1-0 Culbreath (45+3’), 2-0 Pohl (52’), 2-1 Fitzgerald (72’)

Yellow cards: N. Mensah - Park, Finneran, Watts

Referee: Jacob Karlsen (Denmark)

Attendance: 563 at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium