AcademyU21s match report: Liverpool claim PL2 victory at Sunderland

James Balagizi’s accurate strike put the young Reds in front early on at Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground, but the home side quickly levelled through Trey Ogunsuyi.

Just past the midway point of a first half filled with opportunities at either end, Kieran Morrison pinged in a great effort from 20 yards after an excellent Balagizi assist.

Liverpool had to withstand heavy pressure from the hosts for much of the second period and then extended their lead nine minutes from the end as Ranel Young netted.

A solo goal from Tommy Watson presented Sunderland with a lifeline in stoppage time but it was not enough, as the Reds held on.

In a signal of what was to come, Barry Lewtas’ team opened the scoring with just eight minutes played, with Morrison the goal’s architect.

Morrison cutely knocked a ball in behind for himself to run onto and though his drive at goal was palmed away after cutting inside, Balagizi was on hand to control the rebound and supply a low finish into the bottom right corner.

The visitors could have swiftly doubled their lead, too, as an effective high press gave Morrison licence to attack. The No.7 moved past a marker and struck, but Sunderland goalkeeper Kelechi Chibueze turned it around the post.

Instead, the hosts grabbed the night’s next goal.

A momentary Lee Jonas lapse in his own half saw the defender charged down by Ogunsuyi, who bounded forward, evaded the recovering Jonas inside the box and tucked a shot under Kornel Misciur in the Reds net.

Chances kept flowing and Young did almost everything right in minute 19.

He intercepted a pass between the Sunderland centre-backs, sprinted into the space and checked inside a last-ditch challenge. But his final strike was thrashed over the crossbar.

Liverpool did, however, get back in front just shy of the half-hour and it was a fine goal from Lewtas’ side. The influential Balagizi dribbled from inside his own half to the ‘D’ and fed Morrison, who stroked a precise effort into the same corner his teammate had found earlier.

They were immediately close to a third, Young’s superb dribble taking him past four opponents before his prod at the near post was stopped by Chibueze.

Back came Sunderland and another piece of individual play, this time by Wilson Isidor, saw him shimmy into the area from the left but lift his shot from a good position off target.

The amount of clear chances reduced in the early stages of the second half, which were stop-start as a result of several players requiring treatment.

Sunderland were getting on top, though, largely hemming the Reds in their own territory as they tried to produce another equaliser – and they twice came close as time ticked away.

Misciur had to be alert and brave as he jumped from his line to block out Watson, who was released into space inside the box by a slick move through the left channel.

An even better opportunity followed, Watson again attacking that flank and squaring the ball for the arriving Tymur Tutierov. But what looked to be a certain goal was thwarted by an Amara Nallo block.

James Norris was denied by a brilliant reaction save when he got his head on a deep Dominic Corness corner from the right, though Liverpool’s third would come seconds later.

From the restart, Corness slipped a pass into Young to the left of the area and the forward shrugged off his man before rifling a low finish home.

Still the action did not subside, with Watson setting up a nervy finale by moving past several Reds, reaching the box and powering the ball around Misciur.

Liverpool saw out a period of added time that stretched to 12 minutes, however, to claim a hard-fought three points from an entertaining evening.

TEAM

Misciur, Miles, Jonas (K. Kelly, 90+5), Lucky (Laffey, 72), Nallo, Corness, Morrison, Spearing (Pilling, 46), Young (Kone-Doherty, 82), Balagizi, Norris.

Unused sub: R. Trueman.

NEXT UP

Lewtas’ charges now have something of a wait for their next match, which is scheduled for Sunday September 22. Derby County are the visitors to the Academy for a 2pm BST kick-off in Premier League 2.