Match reportJayden Danns strikes twice to earn U18s last-gasp draw with Derby

Derby twice went ahead at the Academy and enjoyed a two-goal advantage but substitute Jayden Danns struck twice from the bench, with his second effort coming from the penalty spot deep into added time.

The opening exchanges passed without incident, though the contest kicked into life in the 10th minute, as visiting goalkeeper Josh Shattell was forced to clear off his own line due to an errant back pass.

The Rams, though, struck first just two minutes later thanks to a low drilled finish into the bottom corner of the net by full-back Riley Moloney.

Derby doubled their lead a short while later, Adebayo Fapetu powering a header past Fabian Mrozek at a corner ball.

Liverpool responded, applying pressure to the visiting backline with Trent Kone-Doherty proving a nuisance down the left.

The Reds did reduce the deficit ahead of the half-hour mark through Kieran Morrison, who saw a deflected strike from outside the box settle into the goal.

Morrison again went close while Charlie Hayes-Green headed an inviting cross wide of the mark in a search for a leveller.

Derby, though, restored their two-goal advantage before the half-time interval thanks to an acrobatic effort from Dajaune Brown.

After the break, it took until the hour for Liverpool to work a clear opportunity, but Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's side made it count when it arrived.

Substitute Danns made an instant impact, seeing an initial effort blocked ahead of firing home a loose ball at a rebound during a corner.

Kone-Doherty threatened again with a header, while Elijah Gift worked a number of opportunities down the right flank.

Liverpool pushed hard in the closing stages, and Ranel Young won a last-gasp penalty in the third minute of added time thanks to quick footwork inside the box.

Danns stepped up and kept his nerve to side-foot an effort down the middle to grab his side a hard-fought point.

Liverpool U18s: Mrozek, Davidson, Gyimah (Giblin, 45), Osborne (Pitt, 45), Hayes-Green, Laffey, Gift, Pennington (Danns, 58), Young, Morrison, Kone-Doherty.

Unused subs: Hewitson, Pinnington.