Roberts to rescue for youngsters
Mar 18 2006
Southampton Youth 3, Liverpool Youth 2 (AET, 4-4 on agg; Liverpool win 5-4 on pens )
By Chris Wright, Daily Post
GOALKEEPER Dave Roberts saved two penalties in a shoot-out to send Liverpool into the FA Youth Cup final for the time in 10 years at Southampton's expense.
The young keeper recreated Jerzy Dudek's Istanbul heroics and made the difference as Liverpool scored a shoot-out victory after a thrilling two-legged semi-final had ended in a 4-4 aggregate scoreline after extra-time at St Mary's Stadium last night.
Holding a 2-1 first leg advantage which was increased to 3-1 still wasn't enough for Liverpool as Southampton hit back and forced extra-time after Liverpool defender Jack Hobbs put through his own goal in the last minute of ormal time.
But after the teams had traded blows in the extra period Liverpool sealed their place in the two-legged final against either Manchester City or Newcastle United.
Paul Barratt, Charlie Barnett, Michael Nardiello, Adam Hammill and Stephen Darby all scored from the spot in the shoot-out for Liverpool, and while Southampton also hit four Roberts was the hero saving twice. A rip-roaring semi-final was played out at St Mary's where both sides showed courage and no little skill, with the advantage swinging back and forth in a pulsating 120 minutes.
Liverpool had looked to be heading into the final after adding to their first leg advantage. They opened the scoring of the second leg after just three minutes. Craig Lindfield, who had scored in Liverpool's 2-1 first leg victory, latched onto Charlie Barnett's through ball to coolly finish for his seventh goal of the competition.
But in the second half Southampton gave themselves a lifeline and just on the hour mark David McGoldrick scored an equaliser on the night from close range.
The Saints now needed just one goal to take the tie into extra-time, but despite some heavy late pressure it appeared as if Liverpool would hang on. But deep into injury time and almost with the last kick of the match the unfortunate Hobbs diverted the ball past Roberts in the Liverpool goal as he stretched to cut out a cross to level the aggregate scores.
Then in the extra period for the first time in the tie Southampton went ahead when McGoldrick added a second again from close range.
But Liverpool hit back and Robbie Threlfall levelled the tie once more two minutes before the end of the first period of extra-time when he headed home from a corner.
So came the shoot-out drama. Just as the first team did gloriously in Istanbul, their young counterparts held their nerve to triumph.
They now have the chance to emulate the clbutt of '96 who included Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen and become only the second team in the club's history to lift the Youth Cup.
SOUTHAMPTON YOUTH: Jones, Hatch, Bale, Thomson, Lancashire, Lallana, Dyer, James, De Carvalho, McGoldrick, Dutton-Black.
LIVERPOOL YOUTH: Roberts, Darby, Threlfall, Hobbs, Antwi, Barnett, Barratt, Flynn (Roque 96), Lindfield (Nardiello 84), Anderson (Ryan 78), Hammill. Subs: Mimms, Burns.
