Manchester City's UEFA Youth League dreams are alive after a dramatic penalty shoot-out success with ten men to win a knockout game in the competition for the first time in seven years.

After staring at another frustrating exit, with 15 minutes left and a man and goal down, City staged a fine comeback led by a January signing and completed by goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff, as they beat FC Midtylland on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

City have made light work of the Youth League group stages in recent years but struggled as soon as the knock-outs arrive. Defeats in front of large, partisan crowds in Croatia and Germany have undone dominant group performances in the last two years, with this trip to Denmark to face Midtjylland another tricky away test.

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There were only 1000 home fans present for this one, but the young Blues must have had a sense of de ja vu when goalkeeper Whatmuff gifted the ball to Julius Emefile to punish emphatically. He would later make total amends.

Defender Lakyle Samuel headed in an equaliser after a good run to meet Divine Mukasa's cross, but Charlie Gray's clumsy red card for a second yellow - his second sending off in three games - left City with an uphill battle in the closing stages.

It was a battle made worse when Jaden Heskey, usually reliable and prolific, tried to clear a dangerous Midtjylland cross but somehow crashed it into the roof of his own goal from 12 yards, no home player pressuring him.

Heskey, so often City's hero and an experienced figure in this under-19 squad, was then relieved to see substitute Matty Warhurst send the game to penalties with an immediate equaliser from Max Alleyne's cross.

With Alleyne and Samuel bombing forward, and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey back in the lack line alongside Stephen Mfuni, this was a first choice defence. And there was a first glimpse of January signing Christian McFarlane, a left-back from New York City FC who showed some nice control in the Midtjylland area to win a late corner, and then a dangerous free kick with a late burst towards the box - as well as a calm pressure penalty in the following shoot-out.

With penalties deciding the tie, City hearts were in mouths when Divine Mukasa's Panenka bounced off the bar and only just over the line, before Whatmuff and Heskey made amends for their earlier errors with a solid save from the Danes' third penalty and confident kick from Heskey down the middle with City's fourth.

And if Whatmuff hadn't already put right his role in Midtjylland's first, he stepped up to slot home the winning penalty to spark wild celebrations. Having replaced Ederson in the senior matchday squad in recent weeks, the youngster mirrored the Brazilian's confidence from the spot to set up a possible last-16 against the likes of Inter, Bayern Munich and Sporting or Barcelona.