Joao nets a beauty as five-star U21s win at Chesterfield
Joao Carlos Teixeira netted a brilliant goal as Liverpool U21s beat Chesterfield 5-0 in a friendly encounter at the Proact Stadium on Tuesday night.
The game was played to raise funds for Chesterfield's academy, and Michael Beale's side put on a fantastic display.
Kane Lewis made his first start at U21 level and played very well at right-back while Matty Virtue was recalled after injury in midfield.
The young Reds were ahead after just 22 seconds when Brooks Lennon netted with a superb finish.
Teixeira fired just wide and Lennon then doubled the advantage to make it 2-0 on the half hour mark after Ryan Kent provided a brilliant assist.
Kent was lively throughout and he got his deserved goal to make it 3-0 on 38 minutes.
Both sides continued to play good football but Teixeira made it 4-0 on 75 minutes with a superb chip over the advancing goalkeeper.
Jerome Sinclair then made it 5-0 when he came off the bench to put the finishing pieces on a great team move.
Reflecting on the performance, Beale told Liverpoolfc.com: "We played really well and it was a great performance.
"Brooks scored inside the opening 22 seconds with an excellent finish and we played some excellent football.
"Joao scored a brilliant goal and was superb alongside Kent who was in fine form. Adam Phillips also came in and did really well and I was delighted with Kane who made his first start.
"It was a really good night and brilliant we could come down here and raise some funds for Chesterfield's academy."
Liverpool U21s: Bogdan, Lewis, Hart, Brewitt, Jones, Virtue, Kent, M Gomes, Lennon, Phillips, Teixeira. Subs: Whelan, Firth, Ejaria, Maguire, Polgar, Sinclair, O’Hanlon, Alves.