The Yellows dominated the match against Southampton, but lost 2-1 in the quarter-final stage
Villarreal U23s have been knocked out of the Premier League International Cup at the quarter-final stage after losing 2-1 to Southampton. The Yellows dominated the majority of the match, but were unable to replicate that on the scoreboard. The English side went ahead through Will Smallbone’s penalty. Fran Álvarez equalised, but seconds later, the decisive goal to make it 2-1 came from Thomas O’Connor.
The opening goal came from the penalty spot after a foul committed by Edu Adell on Nathan Tella. Smallbone stepped up to take the spot kick and fired it home (m.30).
The Yellows’ dominance increased in the second half. It was a siege. The equaliser came from Álvarez. In the 58th minute, Joan Salvà crossed in from the right and Álvarez deftly flicked the ball into the back of the net to beat Harry Lewis in the Southampton goal.
The happiness at equalising did not last long. Saints went back ahead soon after. A deep corner saw a lucky deflection from O’Connor take the ball into the back of the net (2-1, m.60).
Next up for Villarreal B is a game with Barcelona B at the Mini Estadi at the Villarreal CF Training Ground (Ciudad Deportiva) on Sunday (12pm CET). The match will be streamed live on Villarreal CF Live and shown on Televisión de Castellón Mediterráneo.
Lineups:
Southampton FC U23s: Lewis; Dare, Ledwidge, O’Connor, O’Driscoll, Klarer, Tella (Norton, m. 85), Smallbone, Ferry (Jankewitz, m. 69), Hamblin, Johnson (N’Lundullu, m. 69).
Villarreal CF U23s: Joan Femenías; Joan Salvà (Simón Moreno, m. 80), Pepe Castaño, Carlos Blanco, Edu Adell; Adrián Riera (Ahn, m. 61), Beitia (Iván Martín, m. 65), Chuca, Fran Álvarez; Villa, Nikola.
Goals: 1-0. Min. 30: Smallbone (pen). 1-1. Min. 58: Fran Álvarez. 2-1. Min. 60: O’Connor.
Referee: Josh Smith. Booked: Tella, Lewis (Southampton); Pepe Castaño (Villarreal). Sent off: Norton for an elbow on Carlos Blanco in the 92nd minute. Once the match was over, N’Lundullu and Carlos Blanco were also shown red cards after a coming together.
Stadium: Staplewood Training Ground.
