Kai Yearn and Brandon Njoku strike as Cambridge United knock Premier League Leeds United out of the FA Youth Cup

Kai Yearn and Brandon Njoku fired Cambridge United under-18s to a 2-0 win over Premier League giants Leeds United in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup at the Abbey.

The two goals came in the first half, Yearn’s via a curling free kick and Njoku’s through a drilled effort from outside the area, as the Category 3 academy defeated their Category 1 opponents.

Watched on by a crowd of 929, including many of United’s first-team squad, the young U’s delivered a thoroughly professional performance against a Leeds under-18s side that was a composite with the under-16s given the number of call-ups to Marcelo Bielsa’s first team and the under-23s, but still featured age group internationals.

You got the sense of how up for the game United were as they came out firing on all cylinders.

Given the way they approached the game and their tenacity, pressing and organisation it was like watching a group of first team mini-mes - their approach was so much like what has been seen by the U's at the Abbey in League One this season.

Glen McConnell combined with Yearn before hitting a chance over the bar as early as the second minute and, at the other end, there was a warming of the fingers for keeper Tom Finch, who took the sting out of Keenan Carole’s shot before claiming it at the second attempt.

Yearn smashed a volley wide from distance and, in an open match, Connor Ferguson had a shot from distance for Leeds that Finch held comfortably.

There was another opportunity for the visitors in the 14th minute, as Lui Bradbury was just unable to make a proper connection to a cross to the back post.

The turning point came in the 17th minute.

Saleem Akanbi was put through but went down at the edge of the area under what appeared to be a tug back by Leeds defender Harvey Sutcliffe.

There could be a discussion as to whether it was a free kick or not, but you felt that if it was awarded then it should really have been a red card for the Leeds player as he was the last man. But Sutcliffe was only shown a yellow card.

However, little did that matter a minute later.

Yearn stood over the free kick, and curled it into the net to the keeper’s right to put United 1-0 up.

Njoku had a great chance to double the lead two minutes later, but shot straight at Leeds keeper Harry Christy.

Leeds were not without their chances, trying to adopt a style of playing out from the back akin to their first team.

They seemed to have gained an opening in the 22nd minute, with United heavily outnumbered but there was some brilliant defending from right-back Jayden Lott, who swept across to clear for a corner.

United then took charge for the rest of the half.

Njoku was unable to make a clean connection from Yearn’s cross and, in the 38th minute, McConnell crashed a curling 25-yard effort off the bar.

Two minutes later, United made it 2-0.

McConnell drove forward and put a beautifully-weighted pass into the stride of Njoku, who arrowed a terrific first time shot into the bottom corner from outside the area.

A two-goal lead at half time was no less than United deserved, and they started the second half with the same vigour.

A cross to the back post by Yearn was met with a header by Njoku but, with the keeper beaten, his header was cleared from danger.

Leeds were having more of the ball as they tried to pick a way through the United defence, but they were staying focused, stubborn and resilient, with the dependable Finch backing them up.

One such moment saw Frank Nzeh take a painful blow to the midriff when blocking a shot, which United subsequently used to get on the front foot and went down the other end where McConnell’s shot from the edge of the area was saved by Christy.

United had appeals for a penalty waved away in the 69th minute when Njoku went down having chased after Oscar Dawber for a loose ball in the area.

Njoku had another low shot well saved by Christy in the 76th minute but United saw out the last 15 minutes with relative ease in a very professional manner whilst also creating plenty more of their own chances to add to their tally.

Jimmy Unwin, United’s professional development phase lead coach, had set no targets, just that the young guns go out and give it 100 per cent, knowing they could come off the pitch have given everything and while they did that, they also did much more.

It was a comprehensive display that means they have emulated the first-team's achievements of beating Newcastle United in the FA Cup by knocking a Premier League side out of a cup.

And next up is a clash against Nottingham Forest at the Abbey.

Cambridge United: Finch, Lott, Hipwell, Hoddle, Beckett, Nzeh, Brathwaite, McConnell, Njoku, Yearn, Akanbi.

Substitutes: Usman (Njoku, 90). Not used: Chadwick, Holden, Scales, Carey-Evans, Kaunda, Brumby.

Leeds United: Christy, Sutcliffe, Ferguson, Coleman, Mullen, Littlewood, Thomas, Buchan, Andreucci, Carole, Bradbury.

Substitutes: Spencer (Mullen, 45), Wilson (Sutcliffe, 45), Dawber (Littleword, 45). Not used: Ombang (GK), Diboe, Douglas.