A Paul Glatzel-inspired Liverpool U18s reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday night, following a 5-1 win over Bury.
Bury U18s 1-5 Liverpool U18s
FA Youth Cup Quarter-Final, Gigg Lane
March 6, 2019
Goals: Glatzel 15′, 57′, Cain 43′, R.Williams 72′, Duncan 87′; Adams 67′
Barry Lewtas‘ side have enjoyed an excellent season to date, topping the U18 Premier League and producing a strong cup run.
It was Bury who stood between Liverpool and a place in the last four, but the Reds were undisputed favourites to make it through.
There were eight changes to the team that romped to a 7-2 win over Blackburn on Saturday, as Lewtas named a starting lineup that meant business.
Vitezslav Jaros replaced Daniel Atherton in goal and Jack Walls, Rhys Williams and Yasser Larouci all came into the back line.
There were also starts for Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Abdi Sharif and Leighton Clarkson, while captain Glatzel returned to partner Bobby Duncan in attack.
Meanwhile, former Liverpool striker Bright Amoateng led the line for Bury.
- Eight changes by Lewtas; Glatzel & Duncan start in attack
- Glatzel scores 25th goal of the season to open the scoring
- Cain makes it 2-0 just before half-time
- Glatzel’s second of the evening puts Reds out of sight
- Adams pulls one back for Bury; Williams makes 4-1
- Duncan completes the rout late on
- Liverpool progress after deserved victory; Watford await in the semis
Liverpool were the better side early on, pressing their Youth Alliance opponents and cutting a more competent all-round outfit.
A tricky playing surface did not cater towards the Reds’ passing game, however, in what was a scrappy opening to the match.
Duncan saw a shot blocked but Bury had the first attempt on goal, after Jaros saved Jack Hatton’s effort.
It was Liverpool who struck first just 15 minutes into the contest, when that man Glatzel bagged his 25th goal of a stunning season.
The Reds’ skipper finished well after a lovely pass from strike partner Duncan, with their telepathic understanding showing no sign of diminishing.
Duncan almost got a goal of his own but was kept out by James Holden and Sam Allardyce, grandson of his namesake, almost turned Dixon-Bonner’s cross into his own net.
The lead was doubled just before half-time, though, after Allardyce’s under-hit back-pass led to Jake Cain finding the net.
Sharif fired across goal early in the second half, but it wasn’t long before Liverpool had their third goal of the evening.
Glatzel found the net again, this time with a well-taken header from Clarkson’s cross.
Duncan missed the target after getting on the end of Dixon-Bonner’s cross, as the weather grew treacherous at Gigg Lane.
Joe Adams reduced the arrears midway through the second half, but Rhys Williams made it 4-1 to erase any hope for the hosts.
Bury didn’t give up, in fairness, and Callum Hulme hit the crossbar with a free-kick, but Duncan put the icing on the cake, also bringing up his quarter-century of goals in 2018/19 from Glatzel’s unselfish pass.
It was a richly deserved win for Lewtas’ youngsters—semi-finals here we come, where a home tie with Watford awaits!
TIA Man of the Match: Paul Glatzel
Liverpool U18s: Jaros; Walls, R.Williams, Boyes, Larouci; Dixon-Bonner (Tagseth 78′); Clarkson, Cain (N.Williams 78′), Sharif; Glatzel, Duncan (O’Rourke 87′)
Subs not used: Kelly, Ritaccio
Next Match: Derby (A) – U18 Premier League – Saturday, March 9, 12pm (GMT)
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