AcademyU21s match report: Morrison penalty secures Liverpool a late win over Leeds

Rob Page's side came from behind at the Kirkby Academy, with Marley Wilson opening the scoring for Leeds from the penalty spot.

Substitute Keyrol Figueroa equalised for the hosts and Morrison then converted from the spot himself in the third minute of stoppage time to secure three points for the Reds.

Liverpool started the contest on the front foot and applied early pressure to the visitors.

Leeds goalkeeper Darryl Ombang was forced into an early save down to his left to keep the score level inside five minutes.

It was Will Wright who threatened as he shot low at goal in the box after Tommy Pilling had won the ball back high up the pitch.

Morrison then saw a driven, dipping shot fly just past the far post after he cut in from the right flank to work space for himself.

It was Leeds, though, who broke the deadlock after they won a penalty from their first attack of the afternoon. Wilson was taken down in the penalty area and he gathered himself to find the back of the net past Armin Pecsi from 12 yards.

Following the opener, Liverpool continued to threaten as they aimed to restore parity ahead of the half-time interval.

Morrison first dragged a shot wide from a tight angle, while Rio Ngumoha's curling shot from distance made Ombang spring into action to push his effort over the bar.

The attacker flashed another chance over a short while later, while Morrison again worked Ombang, forcing him into another save at the near post.

After the break, the game continued in much the same fashion as the first half, Liverpool pressuring Leeds, who were being forced to defend deep to keep their slender advantage.

Wright saw his advances in the box blocked as he attempted to get a shot away, while a dangerous cross just evaded his reach with a header.

Substitute Figueroa - who replaced Wright - attempted to make an instant impact from the bench.

He first had an opening swiftly closed by the Leeds defence, before his guided header from a Morrison corner fell onto the roof of the net.

Trey Nyoni and Figueroa then combined with a clever one-two on the edge of the box to open up a chance for the former, but Ombang was equal to the shot to punch it away.

However, with 16 minutes remaining Liverpool produced the levelling goal their play deserved.

It was Figueroa who got himself on the scoresheet after gathering a bouncing ball in the area to turn and fire home into the back of the net via the post.

The attacker continued to be the Reds' most consistent threat in the closing stages, directing a header wide from a Joe Bradshaw cross.

He also forced an instinctive save from Ombang as he turned a low driven cross towards goal with a first-time attempt.

In the final minute of added time, though, Liverpool were awarded a penalty for a handball via a deflected shot.

Morrison stepped up to take the kick and sent Ombang the wrong way to spark celebrations after what was the last action of the afternoon.

Team

Liverpool: Pecsi, Ramsay (Davidson, 66), Pinnington, Nallo, Ewing, Nyoni, Morrison, Pilling, W. Wright (Figueroa, 59), Laffey (Kelly, 59), Ngumoha (Bradshaw, 46).

Unused sub: Misciur.

Next up

Liverpool take on Brighton & Hove Albion in Premier League 2 on Friday (January 30).

Kick-off at the Amex performance centre is at 7pm GMT and supporters can watch the fixture live via All Red Video.