In the EFL Trophy game on 22 September 2026, Leeds United U21 beat Barnsley 3:4. Match numbers: shots on target 6:7, corners 7:8.
Match report
Leeds United U21 came from behind to defeat Barnsley 4-3 in the EFL Trophy Group North phase on Tuesday. The result sees the visitors move clear of the bottom while Barnsley drop to second in the standings. We had backed the hosts with 62 per cent confidence, but the match took a different turn.
Callum Mills opened the scoring for Barnsley in the nineteenth minute and doubled his tally just before half-time. J. McDonald pulled one back for Leeds immediately after, but Mills completed his hat-trick in the seventieth minute. And here's the thing — Leeds refused to go away despite being two goals down with twenty minutes remaining.
Vimal Yoganathan struck in the eightieth minute to keep hope alive. A. Richards equalised four minutes later, and Luca Connell sealed the victory with a late winner in the eighty-seventh minute. Barnsley made three substitutions at the break, trying to protect their lead, but the visitors simply kept pushing forward.
The statistics tell a story of two sides trading blows. Barnsley had 48 per cent possession and 14 shots inside the penalty area, while Leeds edged it with 52 per cent and 18 attempts. Both teams created zero big chances despite the flurry of activity. Shots accuracy sat at 30 per cent for the hosts and 39 for the visitors.
Barnsley remain second with three points from three games, having lost two of their opening fixtures. Leeds move off the bottom of Group North with their first point, ending a run of three defeats. The goal difference now tells a different story for both sides in what was meant to be a gathering stage match.
