Man City U21s 2-1 Liverpool U21s (AET): Match Report & Barry Lewtas | OneFootball

By Dan Clubbe

Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha inspired final day draw away at Aston Villa last week meant a Premier League 2 playoff encounter with Man City was the reward for Barry Lewtas’ side at the Joie Stadium.

Without key forward Kieran Morrison and experienced midfielder Tyler Morton, The Reds were still able to name a strong XI including the likes of Trey Nyoni, James McConnell and Amara Nallo for the Friday night trip to Manchester.

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Taking on a home outfit containing not one but two of former Liverpool frontman Emile Heskey’s sons, Lewtas’ charges made a positive start to the match and an adventurous Isaac Mabaya run opened up space for an ambitious shot which nearly opened the scoring, denied by the top of the crossbar.

City soon got to grips with the fast start and began dictating terms, Carter Pinnington’s defensive heroics coming to the rescue in the 10th minute as the home side looked to exert their own pressure.

Having once again enjoyed a strong spell in the match, it was a clinical counterattack that proved to be the undoing of Liverpool as Harvey Davies’ initial save was nodded in from point-blank range by Divin Mubama to give the hosts the advantage.

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Frustratingly, more impressive build-up came to little in the way of clear-cut chances as the percentages weren’t in Liverpool’s favour inside the area all too often, despite both Rio Ngumoha and Mabaya proving to be worthy and willing outballs.

City ‘keeper Spike Brits was eventually called into action on two separate occasions as Lewtas’ side started to try and capitalise on their numerous visits to the final third.

Brits was required moments later to deny Nyoni after Mabaya once again got into a dangerous area before the ball broke to the midfielder on the edge of the box to let fly with an effort that looked destined for the right-hand corner.

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It was yet another nearly moment shortly before the half-time mark as a nearly ideal three-on-one was denied by a break of the ball and a pivotal defensive touch, and in turn, it took a last-ditch McConnell tackle to stop a dangerous situation at the other end.

Shortly after the break, the biggest Liverpool chance arose as Mabaya dug out a cross on the byline that found Tommy Pilling inside the six-yard box, however, the diminutive forward couldn’t quite keep his header down to make it 1-1 with the goalkeeper stranded.

Following a sustained spell of pressure, eventually the equaliser arrived when Pilling, this time, made no mistake, chesting down a cross and volleying into the bottom corner to give Lewtas’ side a well-deserved equaliser.

Liverpool tired and City had the ascendancy in the closing stages, but it was a match destined for extra time despite both teams having moments to potentially avoid an additional thirty minutes.

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It was the home side who had the Lion’s share of possession in the first half of extra time, however, Liverpool were always a threat on the break with the pace of Trent Kone-Doherty and substitute James Balagizi always on the verge of breaking clear.

The pivotal goal came when goalkeeper Harvey Davies saved an effort from the edge of the area, the ball breaking straight at the feet of Mubama, who prodded home from less than five yards out.

Lewtas’ charges threw everything into the final 10 minutes to level the contest, coming close on a number of occasions and were only denied by a last-ditch tackle when it felt certain Keyrol Figueroa would score.

Speaking after the match, Lewtas was delighted with the monumental effort and performance from the U21s.

On the result: “It’s always a tough one when, you know, we’ve had a lot of games this year that we’ve drew, we’ve been edged out, and there’s been certain moments and I’ve stayed consistent with it. I know how well we’ve played, we’ve been really humble in terms of, we’ve really worked hard on the gaps in our game, as hard as we can, you know, the players have as well. So it’s not, we’ve just rested on our laurels and had a draw and thought, yeah, we’re doing great, we’ve worked so hard. And we knew tonight, you know, we knew we were a match for them, we’re a match for anyone in the league. You know, it’s part of our game, you know, it is what it is at the moment. Scoring goals has been a bit of a problem for us at times. But overall, you know, what can I say tonight, I thought the lads were brilliant, you know, and in the end, I think if the game had gone either way, no one could complain. It was a great game of football, I think both teams would have credited themselves. And do you know what, they edged it and we’ve just got to look at how we’re willing to move on.”

On the difference: “I think for us, I think in reality they had a number nine who sniffed one out, Tommy took his goal really well, but I mean, they’ve got two second balls and he’s tapped them in, and I think the difference tonight was a tap-in, wasn’t it? That’s the reality. You know, in fairness to them, we’ve missed one right before the break in the first and then a sliding tackle right at the end. They had the fine margins of the game, you know, and I think for anyone who’s watched us closely this year, that’s just been our reality. But in general, our play, the way the boys have kind of done things, they’ve been brilliant.”

On the efforts: “They’ve been a smashing group, they have. I think before this game, we talked about our lack of goals. We’ve had 89 shots in the previous five games. The boys create, we play good football, we defend well, and we don’t concede lots of goals. We come here to a team that won the league, and let’s be honest, there wasn’t much between the two teams in terms of performance. I’ve said it all season, we know where we are, we know what we’re good at, we know what we want to get better at, and do you know what? Tonight it just wasn’t quite our night.”

On the standout performers: “Tommy was excellent, I thought, in the first half, we were a real threat on the sides with Isaac and Trent, and then obviously with Rio. I thought some of the positions Macca and Trey picked up in the middle while we played through the middle were really good, and yeah, overall, I thought the two centre-backs played tough against a good number nine at this level, in fairness to them. So, yeah, it’s a sore one, but maybe that’s just been a little bit…Sadly, maybe it’s just been the tale of our season, really.”

On the season overall: “Players have improved, the team’s got better, we’ve probably just lacked that ability to score more goals, and that’s the reality, I think that’s the same at any level, isn’t it? At first-team level, we could do with a Mo Salah, maybe, and then maybe it’s a bit different. But they are to come by, so for us. If you’re around it and you see it, you’ll see the good players that we have and the football that the lads have played.”