AcademyU21s match report: Reds beaten by PSV in PL International Cup opener

The Reds hosted the Dutch outfit in the opener of four Group C fixtures against European opposition in the tournament.

First-half goals from Tai Abed and Jesper Uneken punctuated PSV’s ascendancy, and Isaac Babadi stretched their lead to three soon after the interval.

A Michael Laffey own goal gave PSV a fourth and Liverpool will now have to try to bounce back in their forthcoming meetings with Hertha BSC, Nordsjaelland and Sparta Prague.

The visitors – tournament finalists in each of the previous two seasons – made an assured start to the contest, controlling possession without troubling the Reds’ back line.

That said, the hosts were aggrieved five minutes in, when Michael Bresser appeared to bring down Kyle Kelly as the Liverpool man was set to pounce on his short backpass, with the officials unmoved.

The pattern of play was maintained until PSV found an opening goal in minute 21.

Abed was invited to break away along his side’s right flank and he was able to dribble inside to the edge of the Reds area before guiding a low strike in off the right post.

Uneken could have given PSV a second goal soon after, but his contact on Ayodele Thomas’ deflected cross was too heavy and sent the ball over Kornel Misciur’s crossbar.

The No.9 made no mistake on the half-hour, however. Liverpool’s attempts to play from the back were cut out and when the ball ran to Uneken, he nudged a finish home despite the salvage efforts of Tommy Pilling.

Barry Lewtas’ team continued to try to impose themselves, though they needed a good stop by Misciur after Emir Bars was teed up in space inside the box by Babadi.

The Reds made an energetic start to the second half and Tom Hill was bearing down on goal early on, stopped only by PSV goalkeeper Niek Schiks rushing off his line.

But the away side struck again with 51 on the clock. Bars slid an angled pass into Babadi’s run into the area and although his first finish was foiled by Misciur, he thumped in from the rebound.

Uneken sliced at a presentable chance when picked out at the back stick by a PSV set-piece, while at the other end Hill wasn’t too far away with a smash at goal having shifted into space.

Thomas threatened with a speedy dribble down the left channel that carried him into a position from which to strike – but Misciur kicked the effort clear.

PSV did add a fourth from the resulting corner, though. A deep delivery from the left was headed back across goal by Uneken and the unfortunate Laffey saw his attempted clearance go into his own net.

Wellity Lucky made one outstanding block for the Reds, for whom in the latter stages Dominic Corness was close with a cheeky 40-yarder and Kieran Morrison lashed wide after a solo run.

TEAM

Misciur, Miles, Norris (Jonas, 64), Nallo (Lucky, 79), Pinnington, Pilling (Corness, 64), Morrison, Laffey, Figueroa (Young, 64), Hill (Spearing, 64), K. Kelly.

Unused sub: R. Trueman.

NEXT UP

Lewtas’ side switch their focus back to Premier League 2 duty on Saturday (August 24). Leicester City are the visitors to the Academy for a 2pm BST kick-off.