U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 5-2 COLCHESTER UNITED

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Five-star display earns Premier League Cup semi-final spot

2026-03-05T21:56:24.817Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 5-2 COLCHESTER UNITED

Five-star display earns Premier League Cup semi-final spot

2026-03-05T21:56:24.817Z

Five-star display earns Premier League Cup semi-final spot

Destiny Okonkwo sored a second-half hat-trick as Burnley U21s beat Colchester United 5-2 to book their place in the semi-finals of the Premier League Cup.

Vernon Masara and Ellis Clark were also on target on an entertaining night in Leyland, with the young Clarets having to come from behind after initially taking the lead.

It was an unchanged team from last week’s league draw at Fulham, with Oisin Cooney in goal and Kian McMahon-Brown leading the line after his inclusion in the first team’s matchday squad at Everton.

He was flanked by Zach Johnson and Masara on the right and left respectively, while Charlie Veevers made a welcome return to the squad after just over a month out.

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 5-2 COLCHESTER UNITED - Image 1

The visitors started brightly as Makise Evans had a goal ruled out after the ball had gone out of play and headed another cross over in the opening 10 minutes.

Centre-back Frankie Edwards then headed a set piece against the bar, and the young Clarets went straight up the other end to break the deadlock.

Brandon Pouani’s stood up cross was half cleared and Masara took a touch before firing powerfully into the bottom left corner on the half volley.

It was all square on the stroke of half-time though, with Johnson adjudged to have fouled U’s captain Milton Oni in the area.

Kien Connolly stepped up to the spot confidently and dispatched his penalty into the bottom right corner, inches from Cooney’s grasp.

U17 striker Okonkwo replaced McMahon-Brown in a planned change at the break, but it was the visitors who scored the third goal of the night just nine minutes after the restart.

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 5-2 COLCHESTER UNITED - Image 2

A corner was swung into the area and Connolly’s header was half stopped by Cooney but eventually found its way over the line.

Andy Farrell turned to his bench again on the hour, with Johnson and Pouani making way for Veevers and Cameron Scott respectively.

The young Clarets switched to a back five at the same time and it didn’t take long for the tie to turn on its head with two goals in two minutes.

It was Clark who struck first as he converted Veevers’ whipped corner from two yards, and Masara’s excellent backheel then sent Okonkwo through on goal to calmly net his first U21s goal.

Marley Leuluai then replaced Corey King in defence and Veevers led a quick counter attack to set up Okonkwo for his second and the team’s fourth of the night.

Our final change saw Luca Scanlon take the place of Masara and the Gibraltar international played a one-two with Okonkwo to round off a perfect night with a placed finish with 94 on the clock.

Burnley: Cooney, King (Leuluai 77), Pimlott, Egan-Riley, Campbell, Brierley, Johnson (Veevers 62), Pouani (Scott 62), McMahon-Brown (Okonkwo 46), Clark, Masara (Scanlon 88)

Colchester United: Beckles, Faux, Musanhi, Edwards, Newby, Harvey, Lisbie, Oni, Evans, Connolly, Jolliffe (Sasere 82)

Unused Substitutes: Parker, Martin, Emery, Ingram

Goals: Masara 24’, Connolly 43’, 54, Clark 68’, Okonkwo 70’, 87’, 90+4’