On his UEFA Youth League debut, Ben Doak was the star of Liverpool Under-19’s opening 2-1 victory over Napoli before the first-team clash.
Napoli U-19 1-2 Liverpool U-19
UEFA Youth League (1), Stadio Giuseppe PiccoloSeptember 7, 2022
Goals: Pen by Iaccarino 59′; Doak 28′, Canonier 67′
In keeping with Champions League fixtures, the young Reds began their UEFA Youth League campaign with Barry Lewtas calling up an exciting squad, with a mix of under-21s and under-18s and an average age of just 17, 7 years.
Among those who started in Naples were 16-year-old wingers Doak and Trent Kone-Doherty, who have been in excellent form so far since arriving from Celtic and Derry City this summer.
They provided the spark as Liverpool dominated during the first half, with Kone-Doherty handing him the first chance after some great pressure from James McConnell, only to fire his shot straight at the keeper.
Ben Doak started running with the ball and never stopped! ?
He scored one and created another when Liverpool U19 won 2-1 in Napoli.#UYL pic.twitter.com/a2FhFwaHKD
– Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 7, 2022
Doak was a constant threat down the right, driving to the baseline to drill crosses and drop deep to pass balls, and the Scotsman put the young Reds ahead before half an hour.
Scooping the ball up the channel, Doak pushed the Napoli defense forward, cutting with his right foot and firing into the far corner to make it a deserved 1-0.
HT: Napoli U-19 0-1 Liverpool U-19
There was a strong response from the home team after the break, with Napoli exploiting Liverpool’s high line on several occasions with searching balls from above.
Harvey Davies had to deny a one-on-one with a clever save, but soon after conceded a penalty when he brought down Antonio Pesce and allowed the impressive Gennaro Iaccarino to convert from the penalty spot.
Frustration flared in Lewtas’ team, but they steeled themselves to mount a comeback, and it was through Doak again, who made his mark after patient preparation to beat his defender and fire a cross for Oakley Cannonier to finish. .
That turned out to be Cannonier’s last appearance, having been injured in the process, and he was replaced by another 16-year-old in Lewis Koumas, repeating the first-choice attack from the U18 level.
Napoli still had chances to equalize late, and needed a great save from Davies, judging well when the ball bounced off the artificial pitch, to keep Dylan De Pasquale out and secure victory.
It was a huge victory for Liverpool and a stellar turnaround for Doak, who raised his tally to four goals and two assists in four outings for his new club so far, with Ajax next visiting Europe.
TIA Man of the Match: Ben Doak
Liverpool under-19: Davies; Mabaya, Quansah, Jonas, Chambers; Corness, McConnell, Frauendorf; Doak (Miles 90+4′), Kone-Doherty (Young 89′), Cannonier (Koumas 69′)
Unused Subs: Hewitson, Osborne, Pennington, Onanuga
Next game: Newcastle (A) – U18 Premier League – Saturday 10th September at 11am (BST)
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