Cardiff Met U19s qualify for UEFA Youth League after dramatic play-off victory

Cardiff Met FC’s men’s U19s have qualified for next season’s UEFA Youth League after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Connah’s Quay Nomads in the FAW National Academi Development League Play-Off at Latham Park.

In one of the biggest moments in the club’s academy history, the young Archers secured their place on the European stage thanks to a 96th-minute winner from Charlie Keough, sparking huge celebrations at the final whistle.

The result completes a remarkable campaign for Cardiff Met’s U19s, who had already made history by winning the National Academi Development League South title for the first time last month. Their play-off triumph over the North champions now confirms their qualification for the prestigious UEFA Youth League next season.

The scale of the achievement is underlined by the calibre of the competition Cardiff Met will now enter. This season’s UEFA Youth League was won by Real Madrid, who claimed their second title after beating Club Brugge 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the final in Lausanne. The competition brings together some of the best young players and academy teams in European football, making qualification a landmark moment for the Archers.

Connah’s Quay arrived at Latham Park as formidable opponents, having topped the National Academi Development League North after an impressive campaign of their own. The final brought together two of the strongest academy sides in Wales, with both teams having also reached the latter stages of the FAW Youth Cup earlier in the season.

With the contest finely poised at 1-1 deep into added time, the match looked to be heading towards penalties. But Cardiff Met found one final moment when Keough struck in the 96th minute to seal a famous win and secure the Archers’ place in Europe.

It was a fitting finale to a season built on consistency, character and belief. Cardiff Met led the South division for much of the campaign before clinching the title away at Barry Town United with two games to spare, going one better than last year after narrowly missing out on top spot.

The achievement represents a landmark moment for Cardiff Met’s academy pathway and further underlines the progress being made across the club’s youth set-up. For the players, staff and wider club, qualification for the UEFA Youth League will provide an unforgettable opportunity to test themselves against some of the best young sides on the continent.

The squad’s success has been driven by standout performances across the season, including a breakthrough campaign for Harrison Matthews, who has led the U19s for both goals and assists while also making six senior appearances and scoring his first senior goal against Taffs Well FC.

From winning a first National Academi Development League South title to securing qualification for the UEFA Youth League, Cardiff Met’s U19s have written a new chapter in the club’s history.

The young Archers will now look ahead to next season and the chance to represent Cardiff Met and Wales on the European stage.