U18s: Crystal Palace 1-2 Aston Villa

Ollie Bindley netted a dramatic injury-time winner as 10-man Aston Villa secured a last-gasp 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace to clinch our place in the quarter-finals of the Under-18 Premier League Cup.

With the Young Lions heading out of the competition, Bindley scored from close range in the 91^st minute to seal top spot in Group C and progress to the knockout stages.

Bindley had already headed Villa level in the capital when he quickly cancelled out Raihaan Anderson’s first-half opener.

Clay Atkins saw red for the visitors in the 35^th minute, but Villa showed great character to make it seven points from three group stage matches and secure a place in the last eight.

Villa almost opened the scoring in the 11^th minute as Lennon Moss saw his strike parried by Palace goalkeeper Trialist and Bindley was unable to convert the rebound.

But it was the Eagles who broke the deadlock shortly afterwards as Anderson raced down Villa’s left, saw his chipped finish cleared off the goal-line by Vincely Mudame before duly converting from close range.     

Palace’s lead did not last long, though, as Bindley headed home from six yards in the 20^th minute following a surging run and pin-point cross from Jake Doughty.

Villa ‘keeper Rhys Oakley stood up well to deny Donte Martin midway through the first half before thwarting the Palace striker again from close range prior to the break, with Atkins having been dismissed following a lunging challenge.

Doughty and Makai Bernard-Ferguson each saw efforts deflected narrowly wide either side of half-time.

Oakley then used his feet to make a strong reflex save and deny Bernard-Ferguson in the 72^nd minute, before tipping over from Eagles substitute Kayden Moses after he showed some fancy footwork.

The home side came close to snatching the spoils in the 86^th minute as Hugo Bull rattled the crossbar from 25 yards.

And it was Villa who broke on the counter-attack to win it in stoppage time, Erin Orebowale breaking down the right and crossing low for Bindley to convert from six yards - sparking scenes of celebration.