Madger Gomes fires winner as U21s win epic tie
Madger Gomes came off the bench to fire an extra-time winner as Liverpool U21s reached the last 16 of the Barclays U21 Premier League Cup with a dramatic 4-3 win over Sunderland on Tuesday night.
Michael Beale’s charges had raced into a 3-0 half-time lead at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground in Hetton-le-Hole thanks to goals from Joe Maguire and a double from Jerome Sinclair, but by the hour mark the young Black Cats had brought the game level at 3-3.
However, with penalties looming, substitute Gomes ran through and showed great composure to win the tie.
Going into the tie, Beale was able to call on the services of Joao Carlos Teixeira against an experienced Sunderland team, who fielded the likes of Danny Graham, Charalambos Mavrias, Liam Bridcutt and former Celtic defender Adam Matthews.
And with Teixeira pulling the strings in a central role, Liverpool began to take control of the game, going in front after 23 minutes through a well-worked set piece.
The Portugal midfielder took a short corner and from Alex O’Hanlon’s pinpoint cross Dan Cleary was denied by a brilliant save from Maksymilian Stryjek, but Maguire was there to knock home the rebound.
It was 2-0 after 37 minutes. A wonderful pass from Teixeira opened up the Sunderland defence and Jack Dunn raced in behind to fire a perfect low cross to Sinclair, who made no mistake from close range.
The No.9 was at it again four minutes before the break. An outrageous dummy from Teixeira let in Dunn who again crossed to Sinclair to pounce to make it 3-0.
The home side came out determined to prove a point after the break. First Ethan Robson pulled a goal back and then Graham made it 3-2.
Sinclair was then denied by Stryjek before the goalkeeper then turned provider when his long clearance found Graham who netted to make it 3-3 on the hour mark.
Liverpool’s youngsters were stunned at letting the lead slip and it could have gone from bad to worse, but twice in the space of a few minutes Greek international Mavrias spurned two great openings.
Dunn almost fired a spectacular winner in stoppage-time when his curler landed just wide, before extra-time followed.
Pedro Chirivella saw his effort cleared off the line and Teixeira drilled a low shot inches wide as Beale’s charges pushed hard for the winner that eventually came six minutes into the second period of extra-time through Gomes.
Maguire was shown a late red card for a professional foul on Rees Greenwood but Liverpool held on for a great victory.
Liverpool U21s: Fulton, Whelan, Hart, Cleary, Maguire, Virtue, Dunn (M Gomes), Chirivella (Trickett-Smith), Sinclair (Brewitt), O’Hanlon, Teixeira. Subs not used: Firth, Marsh.