Rhys Williams notched a stoppage-time winner as Liverpool snatched dramatic UEFA Youth League victory against Red Star Belgrade.
Williams nodded home an Adam Lewis corner in the 92 minute as the young Reds came from behind to win 2-1 at Langtree Park in St Helens.
It was nothing less than Barry Lewtas’ side deserved after an almost comically one-sided encounter during which they wasted a succession of chances.
Liverpool racked up 31 shots on goal – 13 on target – and enjoyed 67% of possession.
But they fell behind when, on a rare Red Star counter-attack, Dejan Joveljic produced a fine finish on 75 minutes.
Liverpool then missed a penalty when Adam Lewis saw his spot kick saved by visiting goalkeeper Milos Gordic with six minutes remaining, but Rafa Camacho struck a magnificent curling effort two minutes later to equalise.
The game was held up for five minutes during the first half after Red Star centre-back Nikola Savic suffered a serious leg injury, which saw him require oxygen after leaving the field on a stretcher.
Watch Curtis Jones’ first 0interview with the first team – and read what he had to say here
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With Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli playing out a goalless draw in Group C’s other game, Liverpool are now three points clear at the top having taken seven points from nine.
Young Reds show character
This was a far more welcome finale compared to Liverpool’s last UEFA Youth League outing in Napoli, when the hosts scored a controversial injury-time equaliser.
If Paris Saint-Germain in this season’s opener represented a challenge against a side laced with pace and skill, and the trip to Italy saw intimidation in unfamiliar surrounds, Red Star offered a different test for Liverpool’s youngsters.
The Serbians were packed with tall players and real presence, none more intimidating than lanky masked midfielder Mateja Stojanovic.
Leighton Clarkson was on the receiving end of one bone-shuddering challenge early on that set the tone for a feisty opening until Liverpool wrested control.
Bobby Adekanye – pictured during the Youth League game in Seville in November 2017 – was a star once more… until the finish
(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
However, what the Serbians lacked in ambition they made up for in technical quality, which became apparent after the interval as they fashioned a number of opportunities on the break before Joeljic’s well-taken opener.
Liverpool, having created so many excellent chances, could have allowed their heads to drop.
But with Curtis Jones – again a class apart – driving forward from midfield, the Reds youngsters dug deep to demonstrate real character in turning the match around.
And having missed the penalty, the delivery for Williams’ winner was almost instant redemption for skipper Lewis.
Liverpool’s celebrations at the final whistle underlined just how much this win meant.
Bobby dazzles – until the final part
Like so many of his team-mates, it just wasn’t happening for Bobby Adekanye.
Three times in the first half, the Dutch youth international found himself with a clear opening at goal.
Three times he failed to even find the target.
Adekanye, one of the standouts for Liverpool in this UEFA Youth League campaign, cut a frustrated figure.
The second half brought more of the same for the 19-year-old winger, denied a penalty when appearing to be brought down by Red Star goalkeeper Milos Gordic, then seeing a shot from six yards somehow blocked by a defender and later hitting the post.
See how the afternoon’s dramatic game unfolded in full HERE
Adekanye, to his credit, kept on going, running at the Red Star defence and continuing to fashion opportunities.
And that persistence earned a penalty six minutes from time when he was felled inside the area.
Adekanye instantly grabbed the ball to take the spot kick but was overruled, his mood unlikely to have been lifted by Lewis then missing from 12 yards.
On the other flank, Rafa Camacho was suffering a similar fate until, with arguably one of Liverpool’s most difficult chances of the afternoon, he curled home a fine effort from 20 yards with his right foot to finally beat Gordic.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Jaros; N Williams (Hoever 86), R Williams, Clayton, Lewis; Clarkson, Cain (Duncan 80), Jones; Camacho, Glatzel (Dixon-Bonner 90+2), Adekanye (Longstaff 86). Subs: Kelly, Boyes, Larouci.
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