AcademyU18s match report: Second-half comeback as Liverpool share six goals with Stoke
Liverpool U18s staged a second-half comeback to take a point from a 3-3 draw away at their Stoke City counterparts on Saturday.
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s side trailed by two goals before the hour mark at Clayton Wood but efforts from Oliver O’Connor and Cam Williams brought the Reds on terms in the U18 Premier League North tie.
The home team made a bright start and opened the scoring before 10 minutes had elapsed. Lewis Bailey’s delivery across the area teed up Laurence Giani to send a strike from left of goal past Kornel Misciur.
Efforts began to rain in at both ends subsequently, with Giani close to doubling his and Stoke’s tally from a similar position on the quarter-hour mark.
Kareem Ahmed was denied by the post for the Reds moments later, his crisp drive from 20 yards thudding off the left frame.
Jaden Ogbebor went close amid the flurry of chances and also drew a save from Misciur, and a saving clearance from Harvey Owen on the follow-up, in response to Afolami Onanuga working Ben Chivers in the opposition goal.
Stoke had enjoyed control of possession in the game’s early phases but Liverpool steadily wrested it back and they brought themselves level in minute 40.
Left-back Williams made the most of space on the wing and served a low ball into the City penalty area that Onanuga met with a first-time finish into the bottom right corner.
Chivers saved an effort from O’Connor as the Reds pressed, but they went into the interval behind again. A Stoke trialist headed home Giani’s corner in added time.
And the hosts embellished that advantage 10 minutes into the second period, Ogbebor converting from close range after a Misciur fumble.
Liverpool again rallied and they reduced that deficit back to one with half an hour still to play. O’Connor launched a slick counter-attack and received Onanuga’s thread into the box to beat Chivers from a narrowing angle.
Bailey almost sent Stoke clear on the scoresheet once more but he rolled the ball onto the left post from a one-on-one chance, allowing the Reds hope still.
The away team produced the desired equaliser with 76 on the clock, Williams attacking from deep and guiding in a left-footer across the goalkeeper to salvage a point via his second goal of the week.
Both sides pushed for a decisive winner as time ticked away but neither could muster it.
Team
Liverpool: Misciur, Esdaille, Williams, Owen, Enahoro-Marcus, Upton, O’Connor, B. Trueman, Sonni-Lambie, Ahmed, Onanuga (Bradshaw, 62).
Unused subs: Airoboma, Bernard, Ayman, Lonmeni.
Goals: Onanuga (40), O’Connor (61), Williams (76)
Next up
The U18s complete their competitive fixtures for the 2024-25 season by hosting Everton at the Kirkby Academy next Saturday (May 3). Kick-off is 11am BST.