AcademyU21s match report: Will Wright double gives Liverpool comeback win over Leeds
Will Wright scored both goals as Liverpool U21s came from behind to beat Leeds United 2-1 in Premier League 2.
Rob Page’s Reds trailed at the Kirkby Academy on Sunday to a Carrick Njinko strike for the visiting club right after the interval.
But a Wright penalty midway through the second half evened the score and he swiftly netted again to win it.
Liverpool had threatened to go ahead within 20 seconds of kick-off.
Keyrol Figueroa and Wright put Leeds’ defence on the back foot and found space to exploit, though the latter’s strike was ultimately too high.
In response, the visitors moved the ball slickly to Freddie Lane on the edge of the box, only for his finish to lack in power and be a comfortable take for Bailey Hall in goal.
Figueroa was somehow denied an opener on 19 minutes.
Oliver O’Connor slipped a pass to the striker, right of goal, and he stepped into a yard of room before whacking an effort that Darryl Ombang reacted brilliantly to glove onto the post and away.
Next, Jayden Danns just misjudged his weight of pass through to a free Figueroa in behind, having deftly evaded his marker in the Leeds half.
Leeds captain Alfie Cresswell connected superbly with a hit from 25 yards that was bound for the top right corner until Hall stretched a hand to tip it out.
After the opening 45 minutes ended with stalemate still reigning, the away side got themselves in front immediately when play resumed.
Harvey Vincent’s lofted cross into the Liverpool area led to the ball ricocheting around and Njinko pounced with a rifled finish on the turn.
The Reds could have levelled wholly through the endeavour of substitute Josh Sonni-Lambie on 56.
The forward’s well-timed press from an opposition goalkick saw him steal in to have a chance to shoot. His strike was hooked across the ’keeper but wide of the left post.
Wright then headed over the bar from an Isaac Mabaya delivery – however, he and Liverpool were soon on the mark.
A threaded Joe Upton pass into the Leeds box was an invite for the run of Mabaya, whose shirt was clearly tugged by Lane.
The referee pointed to the spot and Wright took the responsibility, confidently clipping his kick into the bottom left corner.
The Reds sensed the game was there to be won, too, and they duly made that wish reality 12 minutes from the end.
Centre-back Wellity Lucky embarked on a brilliant run almost half the length of the pitch and moved the ball on to Joe Bradshaw.
The latter produced an outside-of-the-boot pass from the left channel into the Leeds area and there was Wright to dispatch an unerring first-time shot.
That piece of quality proved enough for all three points as Liverpool saw out their 2-1 advantage to the full-time whistle.
Team
Liverpool: Hall, Mabaya, Chambers (Cisse, 62), Pitt, Lucky, Upton (Onanuga, 82), O’Connor, Laffey, W. Wright, Danns (Sonni-Lambie, 46), Figueroa (Bradshaw, 75).
Unused subs: Ayman, M. Wright.
Goals: W. Wright (67, 78)
Next up
The Premier League 2 schedule takes the Reds to West Ham United on Monday September 14.
Kick-off at Rush Green will be 7pm BST.