Ojo at the double as U21s secure dramatic Middlesbrough win
Sheyi Ojo netted a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Liverpool U21s came from behind to beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at Chester FC's Lookers Vauxhall Stadium on Thursday night.
The winger netted twice in the game, despite Michael Beale’s side having to play most of the game with 10 men after captain Cameron Brannagan was sent off.
Jon Flanagan figured for the full 90 minutes and gave an impressive display at right-back, while the likes of Tiago Ilori, Jose Enrique and Adam Bogdan were also handed an outing.
The away side could have taken the lead from the penalty spot after 28 minutes but Bogdan, following on from his shootout heroics against Carlisle United in the Capital One Cup earlier this season, was the hero as he denied Jordan Jones from 12 yards out.
However, Middlesbrough weren’t to be denied and they broke the deadlock on 34 minutes from a set-piece. Brannagan was shown a straight red card for a foul on Jones and Arnel Jakupovic stepped up to make it 1-0 with a brilliant free-kick.
Facing an uphill task and being a man down, Beale’s charges stormed back in the second half and Ojo was tough to handle for the Boro backline.
The 18-year-old made it 1-1 on 53 minutes when he cut in from the left to curl the ball beyond the reach of Joe Fryer.
It looked as though the game would end all square, but in the third minute of stoppage-time substitute Brooks Lennon was brought down inside the box, and Ojo calmly picked himself up to net the winner from the penalty spot.
The only sour note of the night was the sight of substitute Matty Virtue being stretchered off with an ankle injury, and Beale will be hoping it won’t be a serious issue for a player who has had an excellent season to date.
Reflecting on the win, Beale told Liverpoolfc.com: “I am absolutely delighted for the boys because we deserved the victory.
“I thought the sending off of Cameron was really harsh but credit to the players because we really stepped it up in the second half and showed fantastic character.
“Sheyi scored a great goal to get us level and then put away the penalty.
"We are now hoping Matty's injury isn't too serious because he has been excellent for us."
Beale's team are back in action on Sunday when they host Sunderland at Chester FC. Kick-off is at 12 noon GMT and you can watch the game live on LFCTV.
Liverpool U21s: Bogdan, Flanagan, Enrique, Ilori, Maguire, Brannagan, McLaughlin (Virtue, sub M Gomes), O’Hanlon, Sinclair (Lennon), Kent, Ojo. Subs not used: Firth, Hart.