Spurs v Liverpool: PL2 Match Report – Hall & Gunter star in Tottenham Penalty Win
Tottenham’s Academy have reached a period in the season where games are coming thick and fast, but the stakes of the games are only getting...
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Tottenham’s Academy have reached a period in the season where games are coming thick and fast, but the stakes of the games are only getting greater.
After a rollercoaster of a victory against Aston Villa on the 6th of May, a game which saw two stoppage time goals from either side, red card, and an eventual winner from Will Lankshear in extra-time.
Lankshear’s winner meant that Spurs would face Liverpool at home in the quarter-finals of the PL2 play-offs. Tottenham has already secured the title of league champions, but as was agreed before the start of the season, PL2 would be introducing a new ‘swiss-style’ play-off format.
Tottenham handed its youth side the extra reward for their incredible season so far of playing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, an opportunity that only occurs for the academy a handful of times per season, if that.
Wayne Burnett only made one alteration to his side as Jude Soonsup-Bell made way for Nile John on the right wing, a position in which the two players have continuously jostled over for the past few months.
Liverpool much like Nottingham Forest & Aston Villa had in recent weeks, stunned Spurs early on as James Norris slid the ball across the Spurs box into the path of Lewis Koumas, who has a senior FA Cup goal to his name, tapped the ball home for the Reds opener.
The visitor’s period of control was abruptly interrupted by Jamie Donley. The 19-year-old is building quite a reputation for netting incredible goals, but this goal was one of his very best. Donley smartly dispossessed Liverpool’s Trey Nyoni just outside the centre circle, then with his very next touch weighted an outrageous chip over the away goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Donley himself didn’t even reflect much surprise at what he had just done on the Tottenham pitch, merely jogging back to his own half for the restart, casually collecting a few amazed hi-fives from his teammates.
The Northern Irish-born attacking midfielder clearly had Spurs’ second goal on his mind as Donley then threaded through Tyrese Hall who calmly lifted his effort over the onrushing goalkeeper and into the goal. The goal opened Hall’s account for the U21’s and proved that manager, Wayne Burnett, was right to entrust the 18-year-old with a more advanced role than he had previously played, despite only being promoted to the oldest academy level merely months ago.
Tottenham gave the large group of on-watching Spurs fans inside the stadium something to cheer about straight after half-time as the academy doubled their lead.
Nile John whipped in a pinpoint cross towards the far post where often goal scorer, in this case, turned provider, Will Lankshear, nodded the ball down for Tyrese Hall to double his tally for the night, marking the week that he signed his professional contract with the club with a special performance in the arena that he will be hoping to feature in at a senior level in the near future.
The game was very firmly in Spurs’ grasp after Hall’s goal that sealed his brace, but that grip was slightly loosened with 19 minutes of the game remaining as Josh Davidson got in behind the Liverpool defence, and mirrored the Merseyside club’s opener by firing the ball across the Tottenham box, this time for Carter Pinnington to tap home, despite Maeson King clearing the effort off the line just a second too late.
In the 81st minute, Tottenham’s semi-final place was then plunged into real jeopardy as captain George Abbott was pressured by Liverpool full-back James Norris on the edge of the Spurs box, Abbott seemingly fell to the ground in a challenge that looked like a foul by Norris, but referee Ruebyn Ricardo waved play on, and Liverpool’s number three slotted the ball past Luca Gunter.
Tottenham would then battle on through the night as the game reached extra time. Wayne Burnett’s side lost centre-back Alfie Dorrington seemingly to some sort of injury, but nonetheless controlled the games extra thirty minutes, with George Abbott seeing a looping header saved with five minutes left in what was Spurs’ biggest chance to secure victory in extra time.
For the first time this season, Spurs’ Academy would then partake in a penalty shootout. Nile John netted the first penalty in style, setting the tone for marksman Will Lankshear who also dispatched his penalty clinically.
Luca Gunter then handed Tottenham the advantage after two penalties had been scored apiece, James Norris, whose late goal had dragged his side into extra time, fired his penalty low and into the bottom right corner. Unfortunately for left-back, Luca Gunter had impressively propelled himself that way and firmly stopped the penalty.
Tyrese Hall then tallied Tottenham’s third successive penalty and ensured Gunter’s heroics weren’t wasted. George Abbott then calmly scored Spurs’ fourth penalty, meaning that Jude Soonsup-Bell had the opportunity to win the tie for his side and make it a perfect five penalties from the Lilywhites.
The former Cheslea man did exactly that, guiding his effort into the bottom left corner and out of reach for the opposition goalkeeper. Soonsup-Bell then embraced Gunter who had played such a pivotal part in Tottenham’s penalty triumph, with the rest of the Tottenham squad sprinting over to join the celebrations.
Victory over Liverpool meant that Tottenham had progressed to the semi-final stage of the PL2 play-offs where they have now learned that they will face Chelsea’s Academy, who finished fourth and defeated Arsenal’s Academy in the quarter-finals, teeing up what is expected to be another close affair for Wayne Burnett’s young Spurs side.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will once again be the setting for the semi-final game with the tie being on Sunday the 19th of May at midday. Spurs however have the chance to go into the clash as cup winners with a game against Fulham awaiting them at Craven Cottage on Thursday in the PL2 Cup.
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