AcademyU18s match report: Liverpool hit late equaliser in comeback draw with Man Utd

The young Reds trailed to a Victor Musa double inside the opening half-hour of the U18 Premier League North clash in Kirkby on Saturday.

But a coolly taken goal by Josh Sonni-Lambie halved their deficit before the break and an inspired display from Bailey Hall kept the hosts in the game.

And Liverpool ensured their goalkeeper’s efforts were not in vain as Tyler Martin’s deflected drive on the cusp of full-time found the net.

United settled into early control of possession at the Academy but neither goalkeeper was called into action at all.

The away team did get in front with 16 on the clock, though. A deep corner kick from the left flank was nodded back into the six-yard area and Musa pounced with a looping header over Hall into the net.

Liverpool responded positively and they were soon close to an equaliser.

Deft approach play involving Alvin Ayman released DJ Esdaille to send in a tricky low cross from the right that caused anxiety inside the opposition box. Sonni-Lambie was able to fire in a low shot that was deflected narrowly wide of the left post.

It was a pivotal period of the match, as the visitors doubled their lead within two minutes.

This time it came from the right-hand side as Reece Munro’s excellent delivery from the byline was clinically dispatched by Musa again, the forward angling his body well to flick in a second headed finish.

The Reds were crafting only half-openings and were grateful that Jayce Fitzgerald’s crisp drive from 20 yards was central enough for Hall to claim.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s side halved their deficit in minute 43, however. A lovely counter-attack goal it was, too, with Joe Bradshaw springing Sonni-Lambie in the left channel and the forward evading two defenders before crashing home a shot.

United were close to a third with the last kick of the first half but Liverpool were assertive immediately from the outset of the second.

Afolami Onanuga had already seen a good volley saved by Cameron Byrne-Hughes before an even better chance just moments later.

A precise clipped pass in behind from Joe Upton was attacked by Bradshaw and Byrne-Hughes emerged to touch the ball away. It ran to Onanuga, whose low effort went under the goalkeeper but swerved wide.

United’s Jimmy Thwaites curved a free-kick just the wrong side of the upright and that attempt commenced a final quarter that was largely dominated by a single theme: Hall keeping United out.

He made a great reaction stop to punch over Godwill Kukonki’s close-range header after a corner and then spread himself effectively to block Musa in a one-v-one.

The Liverpool goalkeeper pawed away a curler from Shea Lacey – a persistent threat on from the visitors’ bench – and delivered another point-blank save from Musa’s downward header at the back post.

Bridge-Wilkinson’s side wrenched back some momentum as time ticked away and Martin rasped a decent strike off target from an angle on the left.

From the same area of the pitch, Harry Evers then sent in a dangerous cross that looked to be a gift for a teammate in the middle – but United managed to clear.

The Reds’ sudden spell of pressure told with 60 seconds to go, though, as Martin got strong first-time contact on a corner in from the right and benefited from a deflection as the ball reached the right corner to level.

Team

Hall, Esdaille, Evers, Airoboma, Enahoro-Marcus, Upton, Bradshaw (Ahmed, 78), Ayman, Sonni-Lambie, Onanuga, Martin.

Unused subs: Bernard, Lonmeni, O’Connor, Williams.

Goals: Sonni-Lambie (43), Martin (89).

Next up

Liverpool’s U19s resume their UEFA Youth League participation by travelling to VfB Stuttgart in the last 32 on Tuesday (February 11).

Kick-off in Germany is 1pm GMT and the game will be shown live on LFCTV GO.