AcademyU18s match report: Leeds United 2-1 Liverpool

Ben Doak pulled one back for the young Reds with an excellent finish just after the hour, but the damage had been done by quickfire goals from Leeds’ Max McFadden and Charlie Crew in the opening minutes of the second half.

Lewis Koumas had a header cleared off the line while winger Doak was a constant menace to the hosts.

Doak went close to salvaging a point on a couple of occasions but it was not to be for Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s side, whose next U18 Premier League North assignment is a home meeting with Manchester United next Saturday.

• Want to watch this video? Subscribe to LFCTV GO now and you’ll also get first-team highlights and audio commentary, live Academy football, documentaries, boxsets and much more

A positive, front-foot start to the game could have seen Liverpool go ahead inside the first minute, but Trent Kone-Doherty delayed his shot after being teed up by Koumas and the chance was gone.

An absorbing match was unfolding and McFadden soon served notice of his finishing prowess by rattling a fierce drive from outside the box off the underside of the crossbar.

Then, the lively Kone-Doherty produced a moment of brilliance to spin away from his markers on the halfway line before driving towards goal with intent, only to scuff his shot when a pass may have been the better option.

The speed and directness of Doak and Kone-Doherty on the flanks were causing no end of problems for Leeds and, after Luke Hewitson had denied Ben Andreucci at the other end, Doak delivered a fine cross that Koumas met with a miscued header.

Hewitson again made a crucial intervention to thwart Marley Wilson shortly before the break, but Leeds emerged after half-time with real purpose and had duly scored twice by the 50th minute.

First, McFadden drilled beyond Hewitson from an angle following some intricate link-up inside the area, and Crew then looped home after a quick Leeds break.

Bridge-Wilkinson’s side responded strongly, with Doak leading the charge. The Scot almost provided an impressive assist for Koumas, who was left frustrated when Cian Coleman cleared his header off the line.

But Doak was not to be denied. James McConnell played him in and the 16-year-old’s searing pace took him away from his marker before he dispatched a cool, low finish in off the post.

Doak was taking it upon himself to haul Liverpool back on terms and a surging dart from right to left ended with Leeds goalkeeper Darryl Ombang saving his shot.

Hewitson was needed to prevent McFadden from restoring the hosts’ two-goal advantage, the young Reds’ stopper getting down sharply to tip a glancing touch wide.

Terence Miles then nodded McConnell’s corner wide and Doak lashed an attempt into the side-netting late on, but there was to be no equaliser for the visitors.

Liverpool U18s: Hewitson, Osborne, Gyimah, Miles, Hayes-Green, Onanuga (Pennington, 79), McConnell, Young (Figueroa, 79), Doak, Kone-Doherty (Laffey, 54), Koumas (Giblin, 90).

Unused substitute: Morana.