AcademyU18s match report: Liverpool suffer heavy defeat by Blackburn
Liverpool U18s fell to an 8-3 defeat by Blackburn Rovers at the Kirkby Academy on Saturday morning.
The young Reds had recovered well from an early two-goal deficit to draw level courtesy of strikes from La’more Lee Forrester and Josh Sonni-Lambie.
But a third just before the break for the visitors re-established their domination and they stretched away in the second half for a deserved victory in U18 Premier League North.
A hat-trick from Freddie Leatherbarrow and two goals from towering striker Valentin Joseph did the majority of the damage, while Alvin Ayman’s red card left the home side playing with 10 for the last 20 minutes.
Rovers started much the sharper and had already squandered several half-chances before they took the lead with 11 minutes gone. Jayden Sergeant cut a ball back for Leatherbarrow to grab his first via a deflection off Lucas Clarke.
Clarke and Prince Cisse both cleared off the line for Liverpool as they tried to stay in the game, and at the other end Finn Inglethorpe headed wide from an Ayman cross in their first real threat on goal with 20 minutes on the clock.
The second arrived for Rovers six minutes later, a corner scramble ending with Sergeant turning the ball home from close range.
The two-goal lead lasted just two minutes, however, as the Reds scored with an incisive attack from their own half. Inglethorpe turned well and released Forrester with a fine pass, the young winger racing away and firing high into the net.
Joseph blasted over and Leatherbarrow missed a great chance before Simon Wiles’ hosts drew level with just under five minutes left in the half.
Inglethorpe’s shot was handled by a defender and Sonni-Lambie stepped up to fire the penalty home low for 2-2.
But Blackburn went ahead again in first-half injury time, the Reds failing to deal with a long throw and Leatherbarrow turning home Joseph’s flick at the back post.
That was possibly the game’s most decisive moment as the visitors stretched away in the second half. Three minutes after the restart, Kornel Misciur’s low save fell to the feet of Joseph and he restored their two-goal lead.
It was 5-2 five minutes later as Leatherbarrow turned home a cutback at the near post to effectively end the game as a contest.
Joseph headed home a free-kick for his second just after the hour mark and when Ayman reacted to being fouled in the corner and collected a straight red card, it was always going to be a tough last 20 minutes.
Aaron Potter scooped home a loose ball for seven on 78 minutes and Harry Lister converted a penalty on 84 to make it eight for Rovers.
To their credit, the young Reds kept trying to play and grabbed a small consolation with three minutes left when Haydn Murray-Holme sent a lovely free-kick over the wall and into the net with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
Team
Misciur, Esdaille, Ayman, Cisse, Clarke, Upton (Murray-Holme, 46), Abe (Yeguo, 60), Farkas (Lonmeni, 60), Inglethorpe, Sonni-Lambie, Forrester (Owen, 71).
Next up
The U18s will be back in league action next Saturday (September 27), visiting Leeds United. Kick-off at Thorp Arch is 12pm BST.