Aston Villa exited the FA Youth Cup after a narrow loss to Leicester City at Villa Park on Tuesday night.
The third round tie was effectively decided by Kian Pennant’s goal after 59 minutes, when the Foxes striker rifled a shot past Oliwier Zych.
Ben Chrisene produced a superb save from visiting ‘keeper Arlo Doherty before substitutes Tommi O’Reilly and Ruben Shakpoke went close as Villa pushed in vain for an equaliser.
And with goalkeeper Zych up for a corner, Leicester broke away and added a second in the final seconds before Shakpoke was shown a red card at the final whistle.
Three players, Sil Swinkels, Chrisene and Lamare Bogarde, remained from the starting XI that beat Liverpool at Villa Park in last season’s final, lifting the trophy for the fourth time in the club’s history.
The Young Lions’ defence of their trophy saw them dominate the early possession without penetrating Leicester’s backline, with the visitors registering the first shot on target through Ben Grist’s header.
With 20 minutes on the clock, Villa created their first sight of goal when striker Dewain Sewell spun his marker and forced Doherty to tip the ball over the bar at his near post.
Chances were few and far between as both sides wrestled for supremacy in midfield, but a piece of quality from a set-piece nearly produced the opener for the Foxes.
Captain Samuel Barybrooke stepped up and curled an effort that looked destined to nestle in the top corner before Zych’s superb intervention.
It took Villa less than four minutes of the second half to show greater attacking intent, coming close to scoring after a mazy run by Chrisene.
The left-back picked the ball up well outside the box before gliding past four defenders, bursting into the penalty area and seeing a shot saved by the outstretched hand of Doherty.
Leicester, led by Braybrooke, had begun to control the flow of the game and they created a couple of promising openings before they eventually capitalised on one after 59 minutes.
A swift move of the left-hand side resulted in Pennant bearing down on goal, with the striker unerring as he drilled a low shot into the far corner.
In response, O’Reilly, Ajani Burchall and Shakpoke were introduced for the hosts, who saw Swinkels call Doherty into a smart save from a close-range header.
As time began to run out for Villa, O’Reilly twice shot narrowly wide and Shakpoke headed over before Leicester took advantage of an empty net to grab a second in stoppage time.
Striker Shakpoke, who’d already been booked, was shown a second yellow card upon the final whistle for his protestations to the referee as his side’s cup campaign came to an end.
Aston Villa: Zych, Ealing, Chrisene, Feeney, Swinkels (c), Hart (T.O'Reilly), Bogarde, Rowe (Burchall), Reddin, Afoka, Sewell (Shakpoke).
Unused subs: Lane, Munroe, Alcock, Barnes.
