Young Terriers beaten at Canalside
- Town B beaten 1-5 by Middlesbrough
- Jordan Rhodes on the scoresheet
- B Team in Premier League Cup action on Monday 13 December 2021
Jordan Rhodes netted his first goal since returning from injury as Huddersfield Town’s B Team were beaten 5-1 by a strong Middlesbrough XI at Canalside on Tuesday afternoon.
Martin Payero netted either side of Rhodes’ goal to give his side the lead going into the break, before further strikes from Josh Coburn, Calum Kavanagh, and an own goal from Etienne Camara saw Boro win big in West Yorkshire.
It was a positive start from the Young Terriers, who pressed high against a strong Middlesbrough side that included several First Team players that were looking to impress Chris Wilder, who was in attendance.
The game’s first opportunity, though, fell to Boro as Coburn fired into the midriff of Ryan Schofield from 20 yards.
On six minutes, Danny Grant jinked his way into the area from the left. The winger rifled an effort across the face of goal, but his shot struck the post before Rhodes’ rebound was held by Joe Lumley.
Moments later, Grant’s bright beginning almost saw him set up Rhodes, but the forward could only poke wide from his delivery.
Middlesbrough slowly began to make their presence known a quarter into the fixture.
On 16 minutes, a free-kick from Payero ricocheted into the middle off the crossbar and fell to James Léa Siliki, who miscued a half-volley wide of the far post.
Middlesbrough took the lead on 22 minutes through Payero, who found the bottom corner from Onel Hernandez’s cutback.
However, Town equalised just after the hour mark.
Rhodes dropped deep to win possession and found the feet of Kian Harratt, who held it up before rolling the ball back to the 31-year-old. Rhodes’ first touch set him up perfectly, and his curling effort took a slight deflection as it nestled into the bottom corner.
Town went close to leading through chances from Brahima Diarra and Aaron Rowe, but it was the visitors who got themselves back ahead just before the break.
A throw from the left was controlled by Uche Ikpeazu, who held off Camara and rolled the ball to Payero, where the attacking midfielder drilled the ball home at the near post.
Town began the second period well and could have levelled the game after 51 minutes when Diarra carried the ball into the area, but his scuffed shot was collected by Lumley.
On the hour, Rhodes almost got his second of the game as he forced a magnificent save out of Lumley, with the ‘keeper parrying the forward’s low effort wide of his far post.
However, the momentum in the game shifted in favour of the away side with 20 minutes to go when Coburn added a third after latching onto Kavanagh’s through-ball.
Boro then forced Camara to divert a dangerous cross from William Kokolo past Schofield and into his own goal with five minutes remaining.
Second half substitute Giosue Bellagambi made a tremendous save on 87 minutes, as he rushed off his line to close down and block from Kokolo.
The visitors, however, confirmed the victory in the final minute as Hernandez’s sumptuous cross was turned home in the middle by Kavanagh.
The B Team’s attentions now turn to the Premier League Cup, as they host Birmingham City at the John Smith’s Stadium on Monday 13 December 2021; 7pm kick-off.
B Team’s Line-up (3-4-3)
Ryan Schofield (Giosue Bellagambi, 84’); Etienne Camara, Josh Austerfield, Ben Jackson (c); Aaron Rowe (Jaheim Headley, 65’), Brahima Diarra, Jon Russell (Myles Bright, 46’), Rolando Aarons; Danny Grant (Micah Obiero, 65’), Jordan Rhodes (Connor Shanks, 76’), Kian Harratt
Unused Subs
David Adewoju, Donay O’Brien-Brady
Town Scorer
Jordan Rhodes (35’)
