Champions go out in extra time - Youth team exit- highlights included
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 3:28 am
Liverpool's hopes of retaining the FA Youth Cup are over after Sunderland clinched a dramatic extra-time victory in a pulsating fifth round tie at the Stadium of Light.
A stunning hat-trick from Martyn Waghorn - with two goals proving decisive - secured an extraordinary 5-3 win for the Black Cats after Hughie McAuley's men had twice fought back to send the match into extra-time.
The Reds had looked dead and buried at the interval after two first-half goals from Joe Cornforth and Jordan Cook looked like being enough to dump the three-times winners out of the competition.
But a penalty from Nathan Eccleston and a well-taken goal from Marvin Pourie within three minutes of the restart dragged them level to complete a remarkable comeback.
However, the match swayed the way of Sunderland again 18 minutes from normal time when Waghorn capitalised on a Liverpool error to fire the Black Cats 3-2 up - only for Daniel Pacheco to take the contest beyond 90 minutes with a smart finish on 81 minutes.
McAuley's team battled admirably throughout the remainder of the contest but were undone by Sunderland's Waghorn, a midfielder with first-team experience, when he smashed home a 20-yard volley worthy of winning any match on 104 minutes before completing his hat-trick with a cool finish five minutes from the end.
The Reds, who took to the field in their unfamiliar black and white away strip, went into the clash on the back of a superb win over the competition's favourites, Arsenal, in round four, but struggled to settle into their usual passing rhythm early on as Sunderland dominated possession.
The hosts were first to every ball and after a few speculative efforts from distance they deservedly took the lead on 21 minutes.
A period of sustained pressure saw Kevin Ball's men work the ball well down the left and when Nathan Luscombe sent a devilish ball to the far post, defender Joe Cornforth was on hand to head the ball in from a tight angle.
It was a goal that was met by jubilant celebrations from the home crowd and they were on their feet applauding once more just six minutes later as the Black Cats doubled their advantage.
An incisive pass from Martyn Waghorn found Jordan Cook just outside the area and after the midfielder danced beyond the challenges of three Liverpool defenders he unleashed a delightful strike from the edge of the area that left Dean Bouzanis with no chance.
Faced with an uphill battle the visitors struggled to respond and, in truth, they could have been out of it at the interval but for some superb goalkeeping from Bouzanis to keep out both Nathan Luscombe and Jordan Henderson. Meanwhile, a tremendous last-ditch challenge from Joe Kennedy denied Waghorn after the Sunderland man looked all set to make it three.
It said it all that Liverpool's first shot of the game didn't arrive until the 36th minute when Marvin Pourie turned well and fired in a powerful strike from 20 yards that was easily smothered by Dan Staples in the home side's goal.
And the Reds' first-half was summed up on 44 minutes when captain Steven Irwin was booked for kicking the ball away in frustration.
But anyone familiar with the under-18s this season will know they never give up without a fight and after some inspiring words from Hughie McAuley at half-time they set about Sunderland with a renewed hunger to succeed.
Within three minutes of the restart they were handed a lifeline when Nathan Eccleston was brought down by goalkeeper Staples in the penalty area after he was sent clear by Daniel Pacheco.
The side's leading scorer had notched from the spot on his reserve team debut at Bolton last week and he didn't disappoint on this occasion either, taking his personal tally for the season to 18 with a composed finish from 12 yards.
The visitors looked like a completely different team and it was no surprise when they completed their very-own Istanbul-style comeback on 51 minutes as German striker Pourie latched onto a controlled throughball from Eccleston to slip the ball beyond Staples and into the far corner of the net.
It could have got even better for the away side on the hour mark as the lively Eccleston played a delightful one-two with Pourie, only to see his low shot well saved by Staples.
Both sides committed men forward in an attempt to secure what would surely be the winning goal and unfortunately for Liverpool it was the home side who scored it on 72 minutes.
A mistake at the heart of the Reds defence by big Joe Kennedy let Waghorn in and he surged into the area before slipping his effort beyond the advancing Bouzanis. Three-two down with time running out - surely that would be it? Game over?
Daniel Pacheco had other ideas. With just nine minutes remaining the diminutive Spaniard sprinted onto Pourie's defence splitting pass and clipped a great shot past Staples to make it 3-3 and send a superb cup tie into extra-time.
With both sides tiring the players could be forgiven for a lack of composure and Cornforth could have had his second of the game on 93 minutes but he somehow hammered the ball over the bar after a free-kick from the left had ricocheted into his path in the six yard box.
But there was no sign of tiredness from Waghorn who won the match with his second and third goals on 104 and 115 minutes to leave the Reds heartbroken.
Sunderland: Staples, Kay, Liddle, Hourihane, Cornforth, McArdle, Henderson (Brown 120), Colback, Waghorn, Cook (R Noble 100), Luscombe. Unused subs: Hunter, Scott, L Noble.
Liverpool: Bouzanis, Irwin, MacKay-Steven (Collins 115), Kelly, Kennedy, Highdale (Pepper 117), Amoo (O'Connor 110), Ajdarevic, Pourie, Pacheco, Eccleston. Unused subs: Hansen, Metcalf.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N158832080213-1901.htm
A stunning hat-trick from Martyn Waghorn - with two goals proving decisive - secured an extraordinary 5-3 win for the Black Cats after Hughie McAuley's men had twice fought back to send the match into extra-time.
The Reds had looked dead and buried at the interval after two first-half goals from Joe Cornforth and Jordan Cook looked like being enough to dump the three-times winners out of the competition.
But a penalty from Nathan Eccleston and a well-taken goal from Marvin Pourie within three minutes of the restart dragged them level to complete a remarkable comeback.
However, the match swayed the way of Sunderland again 18 minutes from normal time when Waghorn capitalised on a Liverpool error to fire the Black Cats 3-2 up - only for Daniel Pacheco to take the contest beyond 90 minutes with a smart finish on 81 minutes.
McAuley's team battled admirably throughout the remainder of the contest but were undone by Sunderland's Waghorn, a midfielder with first-team experience, when he smashed home a 20-yard volley worthy of winning any match on 104 minutes before completing his hat-trick with a cool finish five minutes from the end.
The Reds, who took to the field in their unfamiliar black and white away strip, went into the clash on the back of a superb win over the competition's favourites, Arsenal, in round four, but struggled to settle into their usual passing rhythm early on as Sunderland dominated possession.
The hosts were first to every ball and after a few speculative efforts from distance they deservedly took the lead on 21 minutes.
A period of sustained pressure saw Kevin Ball's men work the ball well down the left and when Nathan Luscombe sent a devilish ball to the far post, defender Joe Cornforth was on hand to head the ball in from a tight angle.
It was a goal that was met by jubilant celebrations from the home crowd and they were on their feet applauding once more just six minutes later as the Black Cats doubled their advantage.
An incisive pass from Martyn Waghorn found Jordan Cook just outside the area and after the midfielder danced beyond the challenges of three Liverpool defenders he unleashed a delightful strike from the edge of the area that left Dean Bouzanis with no chance.
Faced with an uphill battle the visitors struggled to respond and, in truth, they could have been out of it at the interval but for some superb goalkeeping from Bouzanis to keep out both Nathan Luscombe and Jordan Henderson. Meanwhile, a tremendous last-ditch challenge from Joe Kennedy denied Waghorn after the Sunderland man looked all set to make it three.
It said it all that Liverpool's first shot of the game didn't arrive until the 36th minute when Marvin Pourie turned well and fired in a powerful strike from 20 yards that was easily smothered by Dan Staples in the home side's goal.
And the Reds' first-half was summed up on 44 minutes when captain Steven Irwin was booked for kicking the ball away in frustration.
But anyone familiar with the under-18s this season will know they never give up without a fight and after some inspiring words from Hughie McAuley at half-time they set about Sunderland with a renewed hunger to succeed.
Within three minutes of the restart they were handed a lifeline when Nathan Eccleston was brought down by goalkeeper Staples in the penalty area after he was sent clear by Daniel Pacheco.
The side's leading scorer had notched from the spot on his reserve team debut at Bolton last week and he didn't disappoint on this occasion either, taking his personal tally for the season to 18 with a composed finish from 12 yards.
The visitors looked like a completely different team and it was no surprise when they completed their very-own Istanbul-style comeback on 51 minutes as German striker Pourie latched onto a controlled throughball from Eccleston to slip the ball beyond Staples and into the far corner of the net.
It could have got even better for the away side on the hour mark as the lively Eccleston played a delightful one-two with Pourie, only to see his low shot well saved by Staples.
Both sides committed men forward in an attempt to secure what would surely be the winning goal and unfortunately for Liverpool it was the home side who scored it on 72 minutes.
A mistake at the heart of the Reds defence by big Joe Kennedy let Waghorn in and he surged into the area before slipping his effort beyond the advancing Bouzanis. Three-two down with time running out - surely that would be it? Game over?
Daniel Pacheco had other ideas. With just nine minutes remaining the diminutive Spaniard sprinted onto Pourie's defence splitting pass and clipped a great shot past Staples to make it 3-3 and send a superb cup tie into extra-time.
With both sides tiring the players could be forgiven for a lack of composure and Cornforth could have had his second of the game on 93 minutes but he somehow hammered the ball over the bar after a free-kick from the left had ricocheted into his path in the six yard box.
But there was no sign of tiredness from Waghorn who won the match with his second and third goals on 104 and 115 minutes to leave the Reds heartbroken.
Sunderland: Staples, Kay, Liddle, Hourihane, Cornforth, McArdle, Henderson (Brown 120), Colback, Waghorn, Cook (R Noble 100), Luscombe. Unused subs: Hunter, Scott, L Noble.
Liverpool: Bouzanis, Irwin, MacKay-Steven (Collins 115), Kelly, Kennedy, Highdale (Pepper 117), Amoo (O'Connor 110), Ajdarevic, Pourie, Pacheco, Eccleston. Unused subs: Hansen, Metcalf.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N158832080213-1901.htm