AcademyYouth League match report: Ajax 3-1 Liverpool

Thanks to their 100 per cent winning record going into Wednesday’s fixture in Amsterdam, the young Reds required a point to seal top spot in Group A with a game to spare.

However, they were beaten as a comeback did not materialise after Trent Kone-Doherty’s goal late in the first half had halved a lead earned for Ajax by Jaydon Banel and Gabriel Misehouy.

David Kalokoh’s deflected strike midway through the second period sealed victory for the hosts, with Barry Lewtas’ side now needing to avoid defeat by bottom-placed Napoli at the Academy next week to be certain of automatic progression to the first knockout round.

Ajax started in the ascendancy and took the lead after Lewis Koumas – leading the line for Liverpool in the absence of the injured Oakley Cannonier – had seen a shot saved following a rare early attack from the visitors.

Banel got the goal, the striker sweeping in Rafael Sarfo’s low delivery from the right with a first-time finish.

Ajax were in the mood and only a crucial intervention by young Reds captain Jarell Quansah, who diverted the effort over the crossbar, prevented Misehouy from scoring the hosts’ second of the afternoon.

But Misehouy would not be denied shortly before the break as he converted another ball in from Sarfo past Luke Hewitson, who was in goal for Liverpool with Harvey Davies suspended.

A two-goal lead was no more than Ajax deserved for what had been a dominant display, but a spirited response from Lewtas’ team enabled them to pull one back prior to the interval.

Typical direct running by Ben Doak saw the winger speed towards the byline and send in a cross, which Kone-Doherty stooped to nod in at the back post after it had looped up off a defender.

Liverpool’s performance was much improved in the opening minutes of the second half and Quansah headed Dominic Corness’ corner over the bar after Bobby Clark had seen appeals for a penalty waved away.

But, just as it appeared momentum had swung in the young Reds’ favour, Ajax restored their two-goal cushion when substitute Kalokoh’s hit took a heavy deflection off Luke Chambers and deceived Hewitson.

Liverpool kept at their task, though, and Doak again carved out a chance.

The No.7’s pace took him to the byline and his delivery was flicked goalwards by Koumas, who inadvertently denied Melkamu Frauendorf a clearer opportunity as the midfielder lurked behind him.

Off-target shots from Frauendorf, Chambers and Corness followed as the young Reds tried in vain to haul themselves back into the contest – and they must now avoid a loss at home to Napoli to rubber-stamp first place in the group.

Liverpool U19s: Hewitson, Chambers, Miles, Quansah, Corness, McConnell, Frauendorf, Clark, Kone-Doherty (Pilling, 68), Doak, Koumas (Young, 78).

Unused substitutes: Trueman, Kelly, Hayes-Green, Danns, Giblin.