Liverpool 2 (Figueroa 70, Bradshaw 90+2) Wolves 4 (C. McLeod 12, Airoboma OG 17, Angel 57, Harper 72)
Wolves under-18s continued their impressive campaign with four goals and victory on the road at Liverpool on Saturday.
Conor McLeod opened the scoring early on for the Old Gold, before Emmanuel Airoboma’s own goal made it two inside 17 minutes.
Substitute Dani Angel, fresh from international duty with Spain under-18s, then added a third just shy of the hour before Fraser Harper made it four to kill any hopes of a comeback after Keyrol Figueroa had pulled one back. Joe Bradshaw scored a second for Liverpool in stoppage time but by that point, the visitors had wrapped up their fourth victory in five U18 Premier League outings.
Richard Walker’s side led inside just 12 minutes when McLeod was afforded space on the edge of the Liverpool box before drilling a low effort past Nathan Morana and into the corner.
Wolves doubled their advantage five minutes later when a cross in from the right was turned into his own goal by the unfortunate Airoboma who was looking to clear with three Wolves men ready to pounce.
The Reds eyed a response and Ranel Young led the fight as he sprinted away and looked to take the ball around Lewys Benjamin, however the goalkeeper stayed big to deny him.
At the other end, Morana made a smart save to thwart Testimony Igbinoghene and prevent what would’ve been a third goal of the afternoon for Wolves.
Half-time | Liverpool 0-2 Wolves
Liverpool’s double switch at the interval was made in hope of sparking a comeback for the home side, but it was the Old Gold who remained most threatening.
Minkyu Ji could only fire over from a good position, before Luke Rawlings directed his shot straight at Morana.
And, just before the hour, Walker’s side made it three as a substitute of their own found himself on the scoresheet once again. Angel scored for the second game running as he collected a through ball, turned his marker and finished past Morana to put Liverpool out of sight.
There was a brief glimmer of a fightback when Figueroa pulled one back minutes after coming off the bench, before Wolves soon regained their three-goal lead through Harper’s fierce drive giving Morana no chance in the Reds goal.
Bradshaw headed home from Airoboma’s cross in stoppage time to add a second consolation for the home side, but it was too little too late as Wolves moved back up to third in the U18 PL.
Full-time | Liverpool 2-4 Wolves
TEAMS
Liverpool | Morana, Pitt, Evers, Furnell-Gill, Airoboma, Kelly (Lambie 46), Morrison, Laffey, Ahmed (Bradshaw 46), Onanuga, Young (Figueroa 62).
Subs not used | Hall, Lonmeni.
Wolves | Benjamin, White (Angel 46), Carson, Rawlings, Voice, Igbinoghene, Reynolds, Ayman (Bradbury 73), Ji (Ashworth 63), Harper (Nyakudya 85), C. McLeod.
Subs not used | Hardy.
NEXT UP
Leeds (A) 01/05
Derby (H) 04/05
