Derby County’s Under-18s exited the FA Youth Cup at the Second Round stage after a 1-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Monday night.
Sean Fusire’s late goal for the Owls was enough to knock the Rams out of the competition following an entertaining encounter in South Yorkshire.
Jake Buxton’s side started the match with the majority of the ball, but there were no real breakthroughs early on.
Billy Gough ran down the left flank and won a number of corners in the first half, but none were dangerous enough to test the Owls’ goalkeeper Pierce Charles. Defender Nelson Aideyan got on the end of one, but his effort looped over the crossbar.
Derby had an appeal for a penalty waved away late on in the first half. Winger Reece Nicholas-Davies looked to be brought down by Charles, but he had to settle with a corner.
Wednesday, meanwhile, had a good chance before the break as Bailey Cadamarteri’s left-footed strike was denied by the underside of the crossbar.
At the start of the second half, Derby had a lot of defending to do. Cadamarteri had a shot blazed over the bar, and Harry Evans was called to make a smart stop to deny an effort from range.
Buxton’s troops grew into the second half and had a few chances of their own around the hour mark. Johnson Osong tested the Charles from range, but the Owls’ goalkeeper held well.
Lennon Wheeldon had a chance to give the young Rams the breakthrough seconds later. He dispossessed the Wednesday defence from six yards out with his back to goal, but couldn’t direct his shot goalward on the turn.
Minutes later Wednesday had a golden chance of their own. Fusire found Joey Phuthi in a dangerous position at the far post, but the forward scuffed his shot and the young Rams were able to clear.
With around 20 minutes to play, Derby hit Wednesday with a swift counterattack moments after the home side had hit the post. Sam Sebagabo picked up the ball on halfway and played substitute Jack Newall through. His initial effort was saved by Charles, and he could only find the side netting on the rebound.
The Owls found the breakthrough shortly after to crucially get their noses in front. Fusire picked up the ball inside the box and his strike was too much for Evans as he found the far corner with no mistake.
Derby found it hard to break down the Wednesday defence late on, despite their best efforts, with no clear-cut chances on offer to find an equaliser as the Owls progressed to hosting Barnsley on home turf in the Third Round.
Buxton’s side will look to bounce back in two weeks’ time when they travel to Merseyside to face Everton in the Under-18s Premier League - North on Saturday 3rd December.
Derby County Under-18s: Evans (GK), Moore, Hawkins, Robinson (C), Aideyan, Nicholas-Davies (Ashia 75), Fapetu (Newall 75), Wheeldon, Sebagabo, Osong.
Substitutes Not Used: Dixon, Shattell (GK), Simons, Osayande, Gill.
Match report by Peter Mahoney.