Steven Gerrard‘s Liverpool U19s lost 2-1 away to Spartak Moscow U19s on Tuesday afternoon, with Conor Masterson dismissed for the Reds.
Spartak Moscow U19s 2-1 Liverpool U19s
UEFA Youth League, Akademia Spartak Moscow
September 26, 2017
Goals: Rudenko 24′, 57′; Lewis 18′
Liverpool took on their Russian opponents in their second UEFA Youth League group stage match, with Gerrard’s side seeing off Sevilla in their opening game.
Ben Woodburn was the most high-profile inclusion in the starting lineup, with the 17-year-old continuing his apprenticeship across the Reds’ academy ranks.
Polish goalkeeper Kamil Grabara started between the sticks and England U17s international Rhian Brewster led the line.
- Woodburn captains strong U19s side for second time
- Lewis opens the scoring with a beauty
- Rudenko double turns game on its head
- Masterson sent off in the second half
- First UEFA Youth League defeat for Gerrard
Liverpool took the lead with 18 minutes played, thanks to an excellent strike by Adam Lewis.
The left-back buried a sweetly struck half-volley into the corner of the net, as the Reds enjoyed the better of the opening quarter.
It was a strike Alberto Moreno and Andrew Robertson would both have been proud of.
Spartak were level shortly after, unfortunately, as Aleksandr Rudenko free-kick luckily beat Grabara via a deflection.
https://twitter.com/LFCU23sU18s/status/912642122897117184
The hosts completed their comeback 12 minutes into the second half, with Rudenko scoring his second of the game after being sent one-on-one with Grabara.
Liverpool were the better side in general, but they couldn’t make their dominance count during a feisty contest in Moscow.
Their chances of getting anything from the game suffered a major blow when key man Masterson was shown his second yellow card of the game, following a late tackle.
Despite huffing and puffing in the closing exchanges, Gerrard’s youngsters failed to find an equaliser, suffering their first UEFA Youth League defeat of the season in the process.
TIA Man of the Match: Adam Lewis
Referee: Donatas Rumsas
Liverpool U19s: Grabara; Coyle, Masterson, Johnston, Lewis; Kane, Tagseth (Adekanye 58′), Jones; Woodburn, Millar (McAuley 85′), Brewster (Camacho 74′)
Subs not used: Atherton, R. Williams, Hunter, Glatzel
Next Match: Maribor U19s (A) – UEFA Youth League – October 17
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