Reading secured a huge victory away Liverpool on Wednesday afternoon in the semi-finals of the U18 Premier League Cup.
Harrison Gilkes’ side reached the final of the competition following three goals in 12 minutes in the second half at Kirkby Academy.
The game was evenly contested in the opening exchanges, though our young Royals did enjoy a series of promising set-plays we were unable to work a clear sight on goal. We did go closest out of the two teams however as Emmanuel Osho picked up a loose ball outside the area following a corner kick, gathering to curl a shot onto the Liverpool crossbar, with the goalkeeper Misciur then claiming the rebound.
After the interval, Reading asserted themselves on the game and shortly after 60 minutes opened the scoring. Firstly, George Booth scored with a deflected strike inside the box before Osho fired high into the roof of the net from an Ashqar Ahmed cross. Finally, Kiyan Coke-Miles-Smith won a penalty before converting himself to give The Royals a three-goal advantage.
The home side rallied to respond in the closing stages but were unable to score leaving our boys as 0-3 victors and U18 Premier League Cup finalists.
Congratulations to all players and staff. Details on the final will be released in due course.
Liverpool: Misciur, Cisse, Ewing, Pinnington, Nallo (Enahoro-Marcus, 86), Upton, Bradshaw (O'Connor, 79), Ayman, Sonni-Lambie, Ahmed (Onanuga, 67), Ngumoha.
Unused subs: Hall, Lonmeni.
Yellows: Nallo (55’)
Reading: Welland, Neptune, Source, Booth (Bowdery 83’), Duah, Harrison, Ahmed, Howard, Sackey, Coke-Miles-Smith (George 90+3’), Osho
Unused subs: Zie, Sharlott, Saint-Louis
Goals: Booth (62’), Osho (70’), Coke-Miles-Smith (Pen) (74’)
Photography credit: Liverpool FC