Liverpool u18 1 Everton u18 1 (Nov 3 2007)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL U18 1 Everton u18 1

Report by Dave Usher at the Academy

Scorer(s) - Astrit Ajdarevic Half Time - 0-0 Venue - Liverpool Academy, Kirkby Date - Sat 3 Nov 2007 Star Man - Astrit Ajdarevic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liverpool’s youngsters completely dominated their Everton counterparts, yet the spoils were somehow shared after a one sided game at the reds’ Academy. Hughie McAuley’s side struck the woodwork twice, had another two efforts cleared off the line and wasted several other clear opportunities to finish off an Everton side who only offered any kind of threat from set-pieces.

Astrit Ajdarevic’s powerful low strike had given the reds a second half lead, but Everton’s centre half headed in an equaliser from a left wing free-kick shortly after. To make matters worse for Liverpool, midfielder Sean Highdale was then sent off for a second yellow card offence.

I’ve seen plenty of these Academy derby games over the years, and they’re always the same. We play all of the football, and they scrap and battle and generally only look like scoring from free-kicks and corners. This was probably the most one sided of these games I’ve seen, and I don’t think Everton managed to put more than three passes together all afternoon. To be fair, I think they had a few players missing, as I hadn’t heard of hardly any of their team.



We had a few missing too though. There was no Pacheco, Bruna, Ayala, Mackay-Steven, Kacaniklic, or Kelly. Marvin Pourie was back from suspension though, and resumed his promising partnership with Natahan Eccleston, meaning that another highly promising striker, David Amoo (pictured), reverted back to the right wing.

The u18 squad has a lot of depth this season, and despite all the absentees McAuley was still able to field a strong line up that completely dominated the game.

As always, it was a very physical game and tackles were flying in from both sides. Most of the physical stuff came from the blues, but Highdale was matching them and flew into some real crunching tackles. It wasn’t a game for the faint hearted.

Eccleston was first to threaten, when he broke into the box and got a shot in that appeared to strike the arm of the defender. A pen would have been harsh as the defender just threw himself in front of the ball and didn’t deliberately handle. It was hardly Phil Neville standard anyway.

Pourie had the first real clear opportunity of the game when he broke clear of the defence and beat the keeper with a low shot only to see the ball hacked off the line by a defender. It was superb covering by the defender who seemed to come from nowhere to prevent what looked a certain goal.

Parsonage, Pourie and Eccleston all shot high over the bar from distance as Liverpool made all the running, and Pourie went desperately close again three minutes before the break when he took advantage of a slack pass in the Everton defence to latch onto the ball and hit a deflected shot against the far post.

The blues only managed their first attack two minutes before half time when the centre forward O’Kane collected a right wing cross and shot over the bar from 12 yards. Prior to that, his only contribution to the game had been to leave his foot in on every challenge he made.

There was one occasion when he led with his elbow into the back of Steve Irwin’s head, which inevitably resulted in a free kick. Yet I heard some of his team-mates applauding him and shouting ‘that’s it lad, well done’. The School of Science indeed.

Second half was more of the same. Liverpool playing all the football, them kicking lumps out of anything in red. Parsonage had a chance four minutes after the restart when he intercepted a pass and ran at the defence. He cut inside from the left, but his shot was deflected over the bar.

Four minutes later the tigerish Highdale shrugged an Everton player off the ball in the centre circle and played a pass behind the defence for Eccleston to latch onto. His pace got him there first, but just as he was about to shoot a defender got a desperate last ditch tackle in to clear the danger.

A minute later Pourie did well down the right flank and when his cross wasn’t dealt with, the ball dropped to Eccleston who’s powerful goalbound shot beat the keeper but was headed off the line by a defender.

It was one way traffic, but Liverpool’s luck seemed to be out, and when Parsonage curled a shot onto the bar just before the hour mark it was beginning to look as though it wouldn’t be Liverpool’s day.

Then a minute later the breakthrough finally came. Shane O’Connor did well on the left and battled through a couple of challenges that left him off balance. As he stumbled he was absolutely hammered by Everton’s right back (a big burly grock who produced a series of heavy challenges) and left in a heap. As everyone appealed for a free-kick that didn’t come, the ball was worked infield to Ajdarevic who drilled a low shot into the corner of the net from 25 yards.

It was the Swede’s second goal of the season, and if he can become a regular goalscorer then he really will have a promising future ahead of him as he’s a very talented ball player.

Having worked so hard to establish the advantage, Liverpool threw it away within six minutes. Highdale felt he should have had a free-kick by his own corner flag, and when it wasn’t given he let his frustration get the better of him and he elbowed an Everton player as he challenged for a header. A free kick was awarded in a dangerous position, and Highdale was given a yellow card.

When the ball was sent into the box, Everton’s centre half met it with a well directed header into the corner that gave Martin Hansen no chance. Cue the customary cup final style wild celebrations.

The reds were inches away from regaining the lead just two minutes later, when Amoo’s powerful run and superb cross was met by the head of Pourie, but his header went narrowly over.

McAuley sent on Michael Collins for Parsonage, but any tactical plans he had went out the window shortly after when Highdale was given a second yellow card for dragging down an Everton player as they attempted to counter attack. He wasn’t happy about the decision, but for me it did look like he pulled the lads shirt before they both tumbled to the floor.

Despite being a man down, it was the reds that continued to push forward looking for a winner. The lively Pourie saw a 30 yard free kick deflected onto the roof of the net, and then in stoppage time Eccleston had a goalbound shot blocked by a defender.

It was a frustrating day for Liverpool, who never really hit top form yet still absolutely pulverised the blues for most of this game. This was my first u18 game of the season, and the first chance I have had to look at some of the new players.

I thought Pourie was very good, and he’s a real character. There was a comical moment late on when he yelled to Michael Collins at the top of his voice: “Mikey, shut your fucking mouth man!” He played very well, and led the line excellently. He’s very good in the air, has a good touch and works really hard. I like him a lot, he’s got promise, as has his strike partner Eccleston.

I also liked the look of Amoo as well, even though he had a fairly quiet game. It was obvious watching him that he was a striker who was stuck out on the wing. He’s not a natural wideman, and I’m looking forward to seeing him play up front as I think he could be a very exciting player. He’s quick and strong, and looks to be quite skilful too.

At the back skipper Steve Irwin played well in an unaccustomed centre back role alongside big Joe Kennedy, who also had a good game before he was subbed late on. Mattone Awang was solid at right back, and I was very impressed with O’Connor at left back. He looks to be growing into that role since being converted from a winger, and he played very well in this game.

Until his sending off I was probably going to give Highdale the star man, as he was extremely impressive in the middle of the park but blotted his copybook slightly with some indiscipline that proved costly.

In the end, I wasn’t sure who to give it to. Pourie was close as he got better and better as the game wore on, but I’m going to give it to Ajdarevic who caught the eye not just with his goal, but also with his close control and impressive passing.


Team: Hansen; Awang, Irwin, Kennedy (McGiveron), O’Connor; Amoo, Highdale, Ajdarevic, Parsonage (Collins); Eccleston, Pourie: