U21S MATCH REPORT: CARDIFF CITY 1-2 BURNLEY

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Premier League Cup campaign starts with three points

2025-09-23T18:00:00.000Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: CARDIFF CITY 1-2 BURNLEY

Premier League Cup campaign starts with three points

2025-09-23T18:00:00.000Z

U21S PREVIEW: BURNLEY V CARDIFF CITY - Image 1

Second-half goals from Charlie Veevers and Kamarni Ryan earned a youthful Burnley U21s side a 2-1 victory over their Cardiff City counterparts on Tuesday evening.

Both were well-taken finishes, with Veevers’ fine strike from the edge of the area particularly pleasing on his first start of the season.

There were five changes to the side that started Friday’s Premier League 2 trip to Southampton, with goalkeeper Felix Chester featuring for the first time this campaign.

Braidin Derbyshire earned his U21s debut on the left wing and with Murray Campbell, Oli Pimlott and Ellis Clark all part of the first team squad at Turf Moor, Jesse Williams, Fabio So and Veevers started at the Cardiff International Sports Campus.

A lively first 10 minutes produced little goalmouth action but referee Ross Martin brandished three yellow cards, two of which were for So and Veevers.

Cardiff’s William Spiers and Robert Tankiewicz both had efforts well wide in a first half of few clear-cut chances, while Burnley’s Williams headed a Zach Johnson corner comfortably wide.

U21S MATCH REPORT: CARDIFF CITY 1-2 BURNLEY - Image 1

Chester was forced into some fine work to keep the scores level on the stroke of half-time, though. After getting two hands to Spiers’ powerful volley, he stood up to deny Jake Davies on the follow-up.

It was Cardiff who looked the most threatening after the restart, with Tankiewicz heading straight at Chester and Spiers firing over from close range.

That forced Clarets manager Andy Farrell into action on the hour, with Derbyshire and Johnson making way for Troy Savage and Marley Leuluai respectively.

There was a formation change to five at the back at the same time and the tweak seemed to kick Burnley into life, with Ryan working Cardiff’s Daniel Higgs twice before Veevers broke the deadlock.

Having been teed up by Joe Ashton, the space opened up for the former Swansea man to unleash an unstoppable effort into the top right corner from the edge of the area.

Cardiff were behind for just seven minutes, though, when Mannie Barton weaved his way through the penalty area and finished low.

U21S MATCH REPORT: CARDIFF CITY 1-2 BURNLEY - Image 2

Another switch saw first-year scholar Dylan Morison replace Veevers and it was in the 85th minute that the match was decided.

After controlling Jack McEvilly’s crisp pass, Kian McMahon-Brown slid Ryan in behind and the striker coolly picked out the bottom right corner for his first goal of the season.

Young defender Michael Stanley was introduced in the aftermath of the celebrations as the Clarets looked to hold on to a second win of 2025/26 in all competitions.

The Bluebirds threatened that achievement with virtually the last kick, but Chester was on hand to deny Spiers expertly with his right leg.

After the first round of Premier League Cup fixtures, the U21s are joint top of Group F. Next up is the visit of Sunderland in Premier League 2 on Friday 26th September.

Burnley: Chester, Blackie, Ashton, Williams, McEvilly (Stanley 85), Veevers (Morison 80), Johnson (Leuluai 59), So, Ryan, McMahon-Brown, Derbyshire (Savage 59)

Unused Substitutes: Grimshaw

Cardiff City: Higgs, O’Brien, Thomas, Apter, Kingdon, Debono, Spiers, Tankiewicz ,Davies (Hilaire-Clarke 91), George, Barton

Unused Substitutes: Jones, Watts, Phelan, Keita

Goals: Veevers 66’, Barton 73’, Ryan 85’

*Photo credit - Monk's Photography