AcademyUEFA Youth League match report: Liverpool knocked out in shootout with Stuttgart

An entertaining last-32 tie saw the German side race into a two-goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes through Eliot Bujupi and Efe Korkut.

The Reds restored parity before half-time, however, as Kieran Morrison halved the deficit and then Trent Kone-Doherty dispatched a stunning equaliser.

Both teams had chances to win it during the second half but it remained 2-2 and in the penalty shootout Amara Nallo was the unfortunate sole player to miss and Stuttgart advanced.

There was a lively start in southern Germany on Tuesday afternoon and each side had a strong opportunity even before the scoring began.

The first came to the hosts as Liverpool goalkeeper Kornel Misciur fumbled a ball into the box but instantly made amends by blocking Bujupi at close range. A scramble around the area was eventually cleared.

Within a minute, the Reds were in at the other end. A short backpass from the right touchline sent Kone-Doherty clean through but the goalkeeper foiled his attempt to go around him.

And the flurry of chances led to the home team taking the lead, Benjamin Boakye sliding a sweet pass in behind for Bujupi to guide a first-time low finish past Misciur.

Rio Ngumoha dragged a shot wide for Liverpool and Mirza Catovic saw an effort tipped over at the other end, before Stuttgart doubled their advantage.

Misciur’s pass out from the back was intercepted at the edge of the box by Korkut, who rolled a strike across the face of goal and inside the left post.

Boakye spurned a chance to inflict further damage as he lashed over the crossbar after Nallo could only partially clear a cross, and the visitors immediately hit back.

After a slick series of passes between the pair from the flank, Kone-Doherty again bounded into a one-v-one and this time laid the ball off for Morrison to convert.

A nice burst into opposition territory from full-back by Clae Ewing was blocked right at the last, but Liverpool’s growing pressure told in first-half added time.

It was an excellent passage as substitute Afolami Onanuga spread play out to the right channel and Kone-Doherty, who unleashed an unstoppable drive into the opposite corner.

Stuttgart began the second period as brightly as they did the first and Misciur had to react to get fingertips on a blast from outside the area by Korkut.

The game was not quite as frantic as earlier but, as time ebbed away, Lauri Penna pulled a shot wide after a neat one-two to open an angle right of goal.

Ewing fired straight into the goalkeeper’s gloves and Josh Sonni-Lambie was blocked out, either side of Misciur adding another save to his tally to keep Stuttgart out.

Only a brilliant recovery challenge by Ivan Knezevic prevented Morrison and Kone-Doherty successfully combining again, as the latter tried to prod in the former’s through ball.

Misciur beat away an effort from Deli Hajdini to ensure the tie went to penalties, from which the hosts were perfect and prevailed 5-3.

Team

Misciur, Pinnington, Ewing, Lucky, Nallo, Laffey, Kone-Doherty (Esdaille, 90+1), Davidson (Onanuga, 37), Sonni-Lambie (Figueroa, 75), Morrison, Ngumoha (Bradshaw, 75).

Unused subs: Hall, Upton, Ahmed, Bernard.

Goals: Morrison (26), Kone-Doherty (45+2).