Youth Cup defeat for U18s in extra-time

An individual moment of brilliance from Jerome Sinclair had the Reds ahead on the half-hour, but a dominant first period was spoiled when George O'Neill coolly struck beyond Andrew Firth a minute before the break.

Sam Deadfield found the target for the Blues to fully overturn the scoreline to the disbelief of Neil Critchley's outfit at Chester FC's Deva Stadium, and Ovie Ejaria fired a Liverpool equaliser with 13 minutes remaining.

Yet the final say went to the travellers, who registered beyond the 100-minute mark when Kieran Dunbar capitalised on a rebound inside the box to drive into the net and secure a narrow victory.

Within two minutes of kick-off, Jordan Rossiter exhibited the confidence and power that have earned him first-team recognition this season by driving through the middle, although Sinclair was quickly blocked out when he collected the tee-up inside Birmingham territory.

Sheyi Ojo stung the palms of goalkeeper Jake Weaver with a fierce drive at a narrow angle on the left, before Sinclair was prevented from tapping in Harry Wilson's centre as Wes Harding stepped in with a timely piece of defending.

Rossiter patrolled at the base of the midfield, spreading play back and forward, left and right, the architect of Liverpool attacks that could call on the fledgling abilities of Critchley's prolific crop of advanced youngsters.

Adam Phillips must have been convinced he would score the opener as he ran onto a Wilson assist and dropped a shoulder to fool Harding. Out rushed Weaver, however, to thwart the 17-year-old at the near post.

Then, a burst of quality all of Sinclair's own making. The striker received possession yards inside the visitors' half and set off. His pace and acceleration could not be defended against and a clinical drag around his marker and blast into the bottom corner was worthy of the watching Robbie Fowler.

Ahead and playing with growing confidence as half-time approached, it was smooth sailing for the Reds until a costly lapse. Jordan Potter robbed the ball and immediately fed the supporting O'Neill, who took a touch with his left and levelled with his right on 44 minutes.

A worrying injury to Sinclair prompted a lengthy delay in the opening moments of the second half and though the forward recovered to continue for a quarter of an hour as the focal point, Birmingham completed a turnaround in the 50th minute.

Restarting play from a throw-in on the right flank, the Blues worked the ball to goalscorer O'Neill. His composure and vision as defenders converged led to a pass inside, where Deadfield gleefully swept a first-time finish around Firth for 2-1.

Ojo dug out a cross from the left wing as the Reds sought a response, but the delivery was cleared from underneath the goalframe and later the versatile attacker could not reach a set-up from Phillips at the edge of the area.

The action was heading in one direction during the time that remained, with Pedro Chirivella particularly unfortunate to watch a delicate, innovative dink from the right corner of the box drift off target.

Ejaria was the man introduced for the injured Sinclair and he followed in his teammate's footsteps after 77 minutes. Sergi Canos and Phillips tussled to keep possession and the former's cutback into the middle was taken and blasted into the net by the substitute.

Ojo danced in from the opposite side and rejected colleagues in support to shoot - narrowly wide. Then a section of those in attendance believed Ejaria had grabbed a late winner with a crisp half-volley that actually whistled wide.

Birmingham forward Kyle McFarlane held his head in his hands after whipping an inviting chance too far to the left 120 seconds before full-time, meaning an additional half-hour was required to separate the teams.

Wilson dispatched a set-piece over the woodwork and, at the other end, Firth showed crucial reactions and reflexes to tip over a looping header from the dangerous O'Neill.

The Reds' stopper put himself in the way again as Khaellem Bailey bounded into the six-yard box on 103 minutes, but the rebound was clipped home by Dunbar to send Liverpool U18s out of the FA Youth Cup.

U18s team: Firth, Whelan, Hart, Chirivella, Brewitt (Alexander), Rossiter (Madger Gomes), Canos, Phillips, Sinclair (Ejaria), Wilson, Ojo. Unused substitutes: Rutter, Travis.