The Liverpool U18s defeated Everton 2-1 in a thrilling mini-derby on Saturday at the Academy thanks to a goal in the 96th minute.
The young Reds fought back from a goal down to win after skipper Jayden Danns immediately cancelled out Martin Sherif’s first goal. Trey Nyoni scored the vital goal in the last seconds to secure all three points for the young Reds.
The goals by Sherif and Danns came within the first eight minutes of a thrilling game in which the hosts gradually gained control to the point of dominance in the second half.
Before Nyoni made a decisive strike, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s team had a number of opportunities but were repeatedly denied by Everton goalkeeper George Pickford.
Sherif hustled his way through Liverpool’s defense to give the visitors the lead as the game got off to a far better start for them than it did for them in the end.
However, the youthful Reds immediately responded. Ranel youthful displayed excellent wing play as he sped to the byline and delivered the ball for Danns, who skillfully readjusted his body to take a touch and then hook in his eighth goal of the season from close range.
The mini-derby was being played as usual at a furious speed with a competitive edge, and Sherif’s challenge on Kornel Misciur forced Liverpool’s goalie to leave the field. Reece Trueman, the brother of midfielder Ben, then entered the game for the first time.
Around the halfway point, Afolami Onanuga came dangerously close to giving the hosts the lead, but after good work from Danns, his shot hit the foot of the post.
Danns, the captain of Liverpool, then felt he had turned the game around by blocking Nyoni’s shot as it trickled in toward the goal, but the offside flag disallowed the striker.
Everton came close to starting the second half against Liverpool cold, but replacement goalkeeper Trueman recognized the threat and defeated Sherif in a one-on-one.
But after that, Bridge-Wilkinson’s team grabbed control, and Pickford swiftly stopped Nyoni and Danns.
Ben Trueman was then stunningly denied when Pickford tipped his powerful, rising shot wide, and the influential Nyoni, who had charged forward from midfield and pounced on Trent Kone-Doherty’s cross, again forced the visiting goalkeeper to make a stop.
As the pressure mounted, Danns and Kone-Doherty each missed the crossbar with efforts before Pickford nimbly parried a low strike from Kone-Doherty.
When Sherif headed a cross against the post in the 89th minute, Everton came agonizingly close to grabbing the victory against the odds. However, Liverpool’s chance was about to arrive.
following Michael Laffey, a substitute, struck the woodwork following Kone-Doherty’s direct inside push disorganized the Everton backline, Nyoni was there to score the rebound.
