Match reportLiverpool U18s beaten by Hertha in SuperCupNI finale

Three second-half goals from the German side left the Reds with a record of one win, one draw and one loss in the Elite section of the prestigious tournament in Northern Ireland.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s charges went into the final round of games with the chance of winning the cup, but it was Valencia who took the spoils after their win over Manchester United.

Jayden Danns’ driven strike against the crossbar late in the first half was as close as the young Reds came to giving their many supporters something to celebrate.

Indeed, it took until midway through the opening half for either goalkeeper to be really tested.

Hertha won several corners in the period and a fine delivery reached Dan Karsten alone at the back post but Nathan Morana made an excellent, instinctive save with his legs.

Next, a misplaced pass out from the Reds goalkeeper found its way to Karim Bellomo, whose shot from the edge of the box was straight back at Morana. It then needed a good Francis Gyimah clearance to bring a fine Hertha move to an end as the opposition began to assert.

Liverpool created their first real chance on the half-hour mark. Kareem Ahmed picked out captain Trent Kone-Doherty on the left and he flashed into the box before testing Tim Goller from a narrow angle.

Good strength from Danns then almost created an opening for Kone-Doherty but the offside flag was raised, before centre-back Tim Hoffmann produced a superb run from the back for Hertha that was only stopped by a full-length dive at his feet from Morana as the game began to open up more.

Danns was denied by a last-ditch challenge after a nice touch from Gyimah, with the subsequent corner sent over the bar by Wellity Lucky from close range.

Seconds later came Liverpool’s best chance of the half, Bridge-Wilkinson’s team winning the ball high and Danns unleashing a fine strike that left the crossbar rattling.

Hertha started the second half better and a nice give-and-go on the edge of the box allowed a chance for Julius Gottschalk but he dragged his shot wide.

It was only a temporary reprieve, however, as Hertha captain Lukas Michelbrink picked up the ball 20 yards out and curled a shot beyond Morana to break the deadlock on the hour.

Half-time substitute Kieran Morrison was the first to try to restore parity, firing a low effort in on goal that Goller gathered well. Morrison was at it again soon after, a lovely run evading two defenders on the right, though he could not beat the ’keeper from a narrow angle.

Liverpool’s hopes of a comeback took a knock when Danns hobbled off with 15 minutes left but Kone-Doherty was still a threat on the left, cutting in to fire a strike just over.

Hertha put the game to bed in the closing stages as Jaime Sherwood tapped home their second when a corner was spilled to his feet and after Michelbrink hit the post, Selim Telib completed the scoring in injury time by sliding home from a cutback as the Reds chased the game.

Liverpool U18s: Morana, Esdaille, Gyimah, Lucky, Pinnington, Davidson, Pennington (Morrison, 40), Ahmed, Bradshaw (Figueroa, 40), Kone-Doherty, Danns (Pitt, 65).