AcademyU21s match report: Clark's late winner sees Liverpool beat Chelsea
Bobby Clark made a match-winning return to action to give Liverpool U21s a 2-1 victory over Chelsea in Premier League 2 on Sunday.
Making his first appearance for more than two months, the attacking midfielder struck in the last minute of the game, from a Jay Spearing assist, to give his side all three points in memorable fashion.
The away team had the better of an opening 45 minutes at the Kirkby Academy that ended goalless, hitting the post through Deivid Washington when he was worked into a one-on-one against Marcelo Pitaluga.
At the other end, visiting goalkeeper Eddie Beach produced a fine double save to repel drives from Paul Glatzel and Mateusz Musialowski one after another.
But the young Reds grabbed the lead early in the second half.
Back in action himself after illness, Glatzel cut out Beach’s misjudged pass out from the back with 49 on the clock and slotted in a low finish to hand Barry Lewtas’ side the advantage.
It proved to be a short-lived lead, however, when Dylan Williams equalised for Chelsea five minutes later, collecting Leo Castledine’s pass to the left and thumping the ball past Pitaluga.
Both sides had been creating chances and as they pressed on in search of a decisive moment, it came in satisfying circumstances for Liverpool.
Introduced from the bench with 13 minutes remaining, in the final seconds Clark was teed up by Spearing as he won the ball high up the pitch.
Stepovers inside the area opened up room for a shot and Clark whipped a curler into the far right corner to deliver victory for the hosts.
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“Fair play to them, they were brilliant for 30 minutes and we did really well to contain them and defend and not go a goal down,” U21s head coach Lewtas told Liverpoolfc.com.
“It was a proper learning experience in that way and then in the last 15 of the first half I felt we grew into the game. Then second half I felt there was a little bit more balance to it, we had a little bit more control at times. Both teams had chances but we managed to take ours.
“From a learning point of view and from a development point of view, the way we kind of stayed in the game in the first 30 minutes was the reason we won the game, because we could have lost it then.”
He added of Clark’s impact: “He loves football and he just wants to play football. He knew he was getting the last 15 minutes – I turned round and he was already stripped ready to come on! He couldn’t wait.
“When he came on he managed to straight away get involved actually. He came on at a real pivotal moment as well and tactically, he was able to kind of pick up where Tom Hill left off.
“Brilliant for Bobby and obviously brilliant for the group as well.”
TEAM
Liverpool U21s: Pitaluga, Miles, Scanlon, Pinnington, Chambers, Hill (Clark, 77), Doak (Spearing, 28), Musialowski, Glatzel, Pilling, Blair (Cannonier, 66).
Unused subs: O. Kelly, Gyimah.
NEXT UP
Lewtas’ side are next in action on Friday (December 22), hosting Feyenoord in the Premier League International Cup.
It’s a 7pm GMT kick-off at the Academy and will be shown live on LFCTV GO.
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