U18S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 2-0 SUNDERLAND

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Young Clarets earn three points on opening day

2025-08-16T11:00:00.000Z

U18S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 2-0 SUNDERLAND

Young Clarets earn three points on opening day

2025-08-16T11:00:00.000Z

Young Clarets earn three points on opening day

Burnley U18s started their return to category one football with a well-earned 2-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.

Fabio So and Brandon Pouani scored either side of the half-time break to give the young Clarets all three U18 Premier League points in the Lancashire sun.

Manager Tony Phillskirk’s starting XI included seven second-year scholars, with Connor Edwards keeping goal and centre-back Corey King wearing the captain’s armband.

Dylan Morison, who has come right the way through the Academy system, started as the number six, with Luca Scanlon ahead of him as the attacking midfielder.

U18S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 2-0 SUNDERLAND - Image 1

It was a competitive start to proceedings, with both teams enjoying periods of possession alongside being forced into some good defending.

Edwards made a smart stop from Charles Dinsdale’s effort on the half hour and Burnley took the lead on the stroke of half-time.

King’s excellent diagonal pass released Pouani, and the winger crossed for So to take a touch and finish well under pressure from the Sunderland defence.

The former Newcastle man almost had another 30 seconds after the restart after good work from Scanlon, and the latter came agonisingly close to a goal of his own shortly afterwards with an ambitious dink.

Our second goal did come in the 54th minute when Pouani read a Sunderland pass perfectly, drove forwards and picked out the bottom right corner to spark jubilant celebrations.

Philliskirk's side victorious at Gawthorpe

Philliskirk’s first change came with 74 on the clock when Luca Fong replaced Croyde Da Costa, and Vishon Masara replaced goal scorer Pouani soon afterwards.

The visitors fought back in the closing stages and Edwards produced several strong saves to keep his clean sheet intact, including two in quick succession from winger Jay Matadeen.

A striker switch saw Braidin Derbyshire make way for Destiny Okonkwo late on and Burnley‘s defence showcased their resilience, with every crunching tackle being celebrated like a goal.

After almost 10 minutes of additional time the referee blew the final whistle, giving Philliskirk and his players a 2-0 victory and all three points.

Next up is a trip to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 23rd August, which kicks off at 11am.

Burnley: Edwards, Da Costa (Fong 77), Wilcock, King, Murtesa, Morison, Taylor (Masara 80), So, Derbyshire, Scanlon, Pouani (Okonkwo 89)

Unused Substitutes: Grimshaw, Lewis

Sunderland: Jones, Bell, Lightfield (Lienard 61), Hunt (Struk 61), Forsyth, Neild, Hester (Burns 71), Dinsdale (Campbell 71), Geragusian, Proctor, Scott (Matadeen 61)

Goals: So 45’, Pouani 54’