Callum Perry struck the winning penalty as the Sky Blues Under-18s progressed into the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup.
Luis Lines saved Izac Khan’s penalty in the shoot-out, which proved to be the decisive moment, as City beat Preston North End at Deepdale.
Aidan Dausch scored twice, whilst Charlie Finney scored in extra-time, as City drew 3-3 with PNE after 120 minutes.
It was the hosts who had the first opportunity of the game, as a ball down the right was fed through for Max Wilson, but he couldn’t keep his effort down and he fired over the bar.
That would be a warning sign for the Sky Blues, as they would fall behind on ten minutes when a long throw into the box fell at the feet of Theo Mawene and he lashed the ball past Luis Lines and into the back of the net.
Lines was called into action again five minutes later, as he got down well to keep out Wilson, who’s strike from inside of the area was stopped by the City ‘keeper.
At the other end, it was the Sky Blues who looked to get on the attack, and it was Aidan Dausch who had their first chance with a great turn of pace and he managed to get a shot away, but it deflected behind for a corner.
From the resulting set-piece, Rylie Siddall put the ball into the box, and it was met by the man who won the corner, Aidan Dausch, and he headed the ball home to draw City level.
That goal gave the Sky Blues the momentum and they were pushing to get in front, and it was Siddall who forced Davis into a save from range.
Then it was Davis who kept PNE in the game, as he produced a fine stop after Callum Perry found himself through on goal, only to be denied by the North End shot-stopper.
Mark Delaney’s side would be left to rue that missed chance as the hosts retook the lead through Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile, who latched onto a Max Wilson cutback and the Argentine’s strike deflected past Lines, leaving the City ‘keeper with no chance.
HALF-TIME: Preston North End 2-1 Sky Blues
PNE had the second half’s first opportunity, but Lines was on hand to keep out a syrike from Ethan Eccleston.
The game looked in the balance, with North End sitting back looking to hit the Sky Blues on the counter-attack and City looking for a leveller to get back into the game and they thought they had that in the 68th minute.
A ball into the box was brought down by Dausch and he got his shot away, which looked destined for the back of the net, but a block by Khan stopped the ball in its path.
City had David Mantle to thank for staying in the game, as he was on hand to clear the ball off the line and deny Rodriguez-Gentile a second of the game.
That would prove crucial as five minutes later the game was level and it was that man again Dausch who picked the ball off Charlie Finney and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
FULL-TIME: Preston North End 2-2 Sky Blues
City started bright in the first half extra time, almost taking the lead for the first time on the night, but Rylie Siddall’s strike came back off the woodwork.
The Sky Blues would take the lead in the 100th minute and it was Charlie Finney who scored the goal, striking the ball well in the area and putting City deservedly in front.
Chances were few and far between in extra time, with Dausch almost adding a third to his tally, but he would be denied by Davis, when it looked as if he could have been awarded a penalty in the build-up.
However, when it looked like City had done enough to boo their place in the next round, Preston snatched a last minute leveller through Tom Wilkinson to send the game to penalties.
AET: Preston North End 3-3 Sky Blues
Penalties:
Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile – Scored
Kai Andews – Scored
Cole McGhee – Scored
Aidan Dausch – Scored
Tom Wilkinson – Scored
MacKenzie Stretton – Scored
Izac Khan – Missed
Conrad Ambursley – Scored
Ellis Horan – Scored
Callum Perry – Scored
Sky Blues win 5-4 on penalties.
Goals: Theo Mawene 10’, Aidan Dausch 25’ 82’, Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile 45’, Charlie Finney 100’, Tom Wilkinson 121’
Yellows: Callum Perry, Joe McCallum, Izac Khan, Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile
Sky Blues Xl: Luis Lines (GK), Josh Gordon, Rylie Siddall, David Mantle, Callum Perry, Joe McCallum (Ambursley 68’), Jayden Smith (Stretton 85’), Kai Andrews, Aidan Dausch, Elliot Betjemann (Osaghae 110’), Charlie Finney.
Subs: Conrad Ambursley, Elliot Meredith, Leon Osaghae, Ben Blakely, Constantine Panayioutou, MacKenzie Stretton, Jack James.
PNE XI: Davis, Blake, Pasiek (Goldsmith 82’), Horan, Wilkinson, McGhee, Eccleston (Garrigan 103’), Khan, Wilson (C) (Carroll 74’), T.Mawene (Tarry 91’), Rodriguez-Gentile.
Subs: Stowell, Critchley, Garrigan, Tarry, Carroll, Goldsmith, Gairns.