Second half fightback secures win
Barclays Under 18 Academy League
Saturday 22nd March 2014
Liverpool 1 Manchester City 2
Goal Scorers: Barker, Celina
Team:
O;Brien, Oseni, Bossaerts, Adarabioyo(Humphreys), Smith-Brown, Byrne, Intima(Garcia), Celina, Ambrose, Boadu, Barker
Subs: Albinson (GK), Wassi, Samuelsen
City travelled to third place Liverpool for their latest BU18PL game where there form has been a little up and down of recent after the amazing winning run stretching into the beginning of February which has meant that Everton are closer to City than they would like. However a pretty dominant display from the young blues at Liverpool’s Kirkby Academy meant that two second half goals from Brandon Barker and Bersant Celina cancelled out Alex O’Hanlon’s against the run of play opening goal.
City looked fired up for this game by having really good possession up the pitch in the opening minutes but the first real chance fell to Liverpool when Nathaniel Oseni played a square ball to Mathias Bossaerts but his first touch allowed himself to be closed down and his rushed clearance went straight to Liverpool and they pushed into space and fired into the near post but Billy O’Brien was alert and he tipped the ball onto the post.
City did not let that half scare affect them as they continued to dominate the half and were unlucky on two occasions to see the ball cannon of the woodwork from shots by Denzeil Boadu and Thierry Ambrose.
Then as the half wore on other chances fell to City and this time it was Barker and Jorge Intima where the Portuguese youth international was on the end of a very good quick move that left him one on one with the keeper on the angle but his shot was a bit straight at him and Barker’s pace again got him into space in the area and his shot fizzed across the goal and just inches wide.
However despite all those chances and possession it was Liverpool that hit City on the break where the ball was played through and Bossaerts stood off him and the ball came in and was not dealt with by the City defence and there was O’Hanlon to pick up the loose ball from about ten yards and fire into the goal.
The second half did not start out that great for City as a crossfield pass by Bossaerts to Tosin Adarabioyo was not seen initially and so despite him getting to the ball the touch was not of full control and Liverpool picked up possession but the lay off to the left was not the best and so City’s defence were able to regroup and cover the positions.
That did not deter them and they continued to press forward as they had done in the first half but Liverpool were showing more purpose to their own play as well. This made for a very good close second half as it wore on.
The first goal of the half though did strengthen City’s resolve as it came from yet another strong play down the left hand side from Barker where he had controlled a long range crossfield pass and ran at the fullback before cutting inside and firing through the legs of the keeper for a deserved equalizer.
Billy O’Brien was showing the watching coaching staff why they had shown faith in him when again he saved City from again falling behind from a good move by Liverpool.
City however score the second and last goal of the half when Jack Byrne floated a ball over to Barker on the left and he cushioned a very good header for an inside over-lapping run by Ashley Smith-Brown and his deep cross was headed away but only to Celina on the edge of the area where he took a nice touch before firing a fine strike with very little back lift into the corner of the goal.
Liverpool continued to press for a goal and an equalizer and won dangerous free kicks on a few occasions but it was that man O’Brien between City’s sticks that the young blues should be thankful for the victory as they powered down the left side and they got beyond Bossaerts and the cross was pulled back perfectly to volley into goal but Billy’s dive ensured his legs stuck out as far as he could to make himself as big as he could and that athleticism ensure his foot stopped the ball from going beyond him and into the goal.
The second half saw an undeserved two nil margin for City but over the ninety minutes you could not argue that the Liverpool keeper had saved them far more that O’Brien had done for City and so that merited victory moves City thirteen points clear in the table and on to almost certain end of season play-off place.
Next up for City is a home game against an Aston Villa side that have been good at time by winning games against decent opposition but also dropping points in games you might not expect and so it will probably be another tough game.
The under 16 side were involved in a six goal thriller, with the final score finishing 3-3