A hat-trick from 16-year-old Ryan McAidoo helped City take another step towards UEFA Youth League group stage qualification with 6-1 triumph over Feyenoord.

 City took an early lead when Reigan Heskey scored his 14th goal in all competitions from close range, with the winger getting his 15th later in the game. 

Farid Alfa-Ruprecht made it two on 37 minutes with a vicious first-time volley at the back post.

Kelvin Neijenhuis pulled one back for the visitors from the penalty spot early in the second half but a flurry of late goals would see City dominate.

McAidoo’s brace, completed in one minute and nine seconds, put the Blues back in the driving seat, with the youngster completing his hat-trick and the scoring late on after Heskey had grabbed his second with a deflected effort.

WHAT HAPPENED

For our final home League Phase clash, Ben Wilkinson’s side welcomed Feyenoord to the Joie Stadium with our eyes set on edging closer to qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition.

Looking to return to winning ways in the Youth League following a tough defeat at Sporting CP, it took City’s Under-19s just 11 minutes to take the lead.

A confident run forward by Oboavwoduo, including skilful link-up play with Jaden Heskey, ended with the former playing the ball out to the right, to an unmarked Alfa-Ruprecht.

 : City's starting XI that faced Feyenoord. 

: City's starting XI that faced Feyenoord.

The German youth international saw his shot ricochet off the left post and into the feet of R. Heskey, who tapped home with ease.

Quickly after the restart, however, our opponents showed their own attacking threat.

Aymen Sliti played a low cross across the face of the Blues’ goal and into the path of an unmarked Neijenhuis. The Feyenoord striker seemed destined to find the net but saw his left-footed effort fly wide of the post from one yard out, a welcome sight for City.

After fantastic hold-up play by R. Heskey on the left, Charlie Gray broke the Feyenoord lines as he played Oboavwoduo through to the by-line.

His first-time floated cross to the back post was volleyed in by Alfa-Ruprecht to double City’s advantage with just under 10 minu

tes left of the first half.