Match reportLiverpool U21s produce comeback in 3-3 draw with Spurs

Romaine Mundle’s goal gave Spurs an early lead at the Lamex Stadium and despite the Reds gaining momentum in the first half, Yago Alonso extended their advantage to three with a brace just before the break.

But Liverpool came storming back after the interval and claimed a point that was the least they deserved, courtesy of efforts from Luke Chambers, Max Woltman and substitute Harvey Blair.

Spurs’ intent was evident immediately and they could have opened the scoring inside 15 seconds.

A slick passing exchange along the left-hand side released Alonso inside the area and, from a narrowing angle, he swept his attempted finish off target to the right.

The hosts were celebrating on five minutes, though, as the impact of their strong early pressing told. Jamie Donley stole possession from Jarell Quansah deep in the Liverpool half and unselfishly squared the ball across the box for Mundle to send past Harvey Davies.

The response from Barry Lewtas’ Reds was admirable and they threatened three times in quick succession soon after the concession.

First, Layton Stewart snuck in behind to turn a long pass over the top into a possible chance. The striker was sandwiched by the outrushing goalkeeper and a defender, spooling the ball to Melkamu Frauendorf, whose lofted finish from 20 yards drifted too high over the exposed goal.

Then Chambers scampered into space down the left flank and delivered a sweet cross to the near post, where Frauendorf touched an effort wide.

Dominic Corness came closest from the most difficult of situations, the midfielder meeting a clearance with a sensational, first-time volley that soared past the goalkeeper’s reach but bounced off the crossbar.

Mundle sliced a decent chance over the upright as Tottenham stirred again and they raced clear on the scoresheet with a quickfire double before half-time.

Alonso was sent away behind the Liverpool backline in the right channel and fired a strike across Davies, and the same player then pounced on defensive hesitation to run through, round the Reds’ ’keeper and claim his second and Spurs’ third of the evening.

Lewtas’ team emerged for the second period with renewed vigour, clearly believing the deficit was not insurmountable.

That conviction was strengthened on 53 minutes when Chambers struck. From a drop-ball high on the right wing, the Reds kept the ball alive around the edge of the area and the left-back managed to force a shot into the net at the second attempt.

On they surged and Corness was denied by the woodwork again after cutting out a Tottenham throw-in, darting into the box and sliding a low effort onto the right post.

The comeback stepped up in the 69th minute, however. Stewart’s strong hold-up play in his own half sparked another attack and the ball eventually fell to Woltman, who guided a lovely, rolled strike into the bottom right corner.

Spurs simply could not get out by this point and Liverpool soon levelled superbly. Chambers drove in from the flank and fed James Norris, who turned the ball on to Blair. The substitute moved into the area and walloped an unstoppable finish into the roof of the goal for 3-3.

Stewart had the ball in the net from Norris’ low cross but was denied by an offside flag, while an unmarked Nile John pulled a strike wide from a half-cleared Tottenham corner as the whistle sealed a point apiece at the end of a thriller.

Liverpool U21s: Davies, Stephenson, Chambers, Quansah, Jonas, Corness, Frauendorf (Blair, 62), Norris, Stewart (Cannonier, 88), Cain, Woltman (O’Rourke, 88).

Unused substitutes: Kelly, Olufunwa.