Liverpool must wait to discover if they have qualified for the UEFA Youth League knockout stages after thrilling draw at Girona on Tuesday afternoon
GIRONA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 10: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Trent Kone-Doherty of Liverpool celebrating after scoring the second goal during the UEFA Youth League 2024/25 amtch between Girona FC and Liverpool FC on December 10, 2024 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Tent Kone-Doherty celebrates after scoring Liverpool's equaliser in their UEFA Youth League match in Girona
Liverpool face an anxious wait to discover their UEFA Youth League fate following a dramatic clash against Girona in Spain on Tuesday afternoon. Trent Kone-Doherty struck a superb solo goal with seven minutes remaining to earn an unlikely 2-2 draw at the Estadi Municipal de Olot for a Reds under-19s side who played more than 50 minutes with 10 men following the first-half dismissal of Ranel Young.
Jayden Danns had earlier marked his first appearance in the competition this season by giving Liverpool the lead on 32 minutes from the spot after Rio Ngumoha was fouled.
The result means Barry Lewtas's side finished with eight points from their six games. The top 22 in the 36-team league qualify for the knockout stages, with Liverpool - who ended the match a point above the cut-off point - now having to wait until the final matches in the opening stage on Wednesday afternoon before their final position is determined.
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With both teams knowing victory would guarantee progress, it made for an open first half with chances at both ends. The Reds fashioned the first opportunity when good pressure led to Danns feeding Trey Nyoni inside the area for a shot that was curled wide of the far post.
At the other end, Arnaut Coromina dragged a shot wide before Girona cut open the Liverpool left but Luis Montes Guillen fired wastefully off target.
And the hosts were made to pay for their profligacy on 32 minutes when excellent wing play from Ngumoha saw him work his way into the area and draw a foul from Gibert Jordana for a penalty confidently converted by Danns.
But the game was transformed six minutes later when Young was given a straight red card for a strong challenge on Girona midfielder Pol Silvero; the reaction of the home bench arguably giving the referee no choice but to dismiss the Liverpool man.
Girona twice came close to levelling before the break, Kornel Misciur making a fine save to keep out a Muhammed Touray header before Montes Guillen fired wide from close range.
Kone-Doherty struck the top of the bar with a cross moments into the second half but the home team were ahead by the hour.
Three minutes after the restart, the Liverpool defence were caught square and Juan Arango was brought down by Misciur before sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot.
Josh Davidson then had to clear off the line from Arango before, on 58 minutes, Coromina thumped a fantastic shot over Misciur from 30 yards.
Ngumoha snatched at a rare chance for Liverpool before Kone-Doherty equalised with a superb solo goal on 83 minutes, racing on to substitute Kyle Kelly's throughball, holding off Marc Aznar and then progressing into the area before finishing well.
Liverpool U18s are next in action on Saturday when they take on Wolves in the U18 Premier League North (kick-off 12pm).
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Misciur; Pitt, Nallo, Lucky, Pinnington; Davidson, Nyoni; Kone-Doherty, Young, Ngumoha (Figueroa 75); Danns (Kelly 67). Subs: Hall, Bernard, O'Connor, Ahmed, Bradshaw, Sonni-Lambie. BOOKING: Lucky. SENDING-OFF: Young.