The Mini Submarine take a massive step towards the Premier League International Cup quarter-finals
A Yellows show in Liverpool! Villarreal U23s destroyed the English outfit 0-7 in a match that became a real goalfest for the Yellows side. Mario González (2), Nikola Vujnovic (2), Sergio Lozano, Adrián Riera and Mukwelle Akale scored the Submarine’s goals at Liverpool FC Academy. After the win against the red, Miguel Álvarez’s side lead Group E with seven points, and take a massive step towards qualifying for the next round of the Premier League International Cup.
Villarreal U23s opened the scoring in the first moments of the match. In the third minute, González put the away side in front with a shot from out wide, on the back of a great run down the right flank. The opposition weren’t allowed to react, and in the eighth minute, the Yellows were 2-0 up, thanks to a long-range Lozano effort. Álvarez’s team were dominant in the match.
Before there was even a quarter of an hour on the clock, González scored his second, making the most of an error in the opposition defence. Despite the score, the Yellows didn’t take their foot off the gas. The fourth goal came in the 22nd minute. Vujnovic made the most from the penalty spot after a foul on Dani Villa. After a fantastic first half, the Yellows went into the dressing room with a four-goal lead.
The second half continued in the same fashion as the first. In the 52nd minute, soon after entering, Riera, scored a fantastic goal to make it 5-0. He got the ball in the box, moved it onto his left foot, and curled it into the back of the net off the post.
Villarreal B were insatiable despite the score, and finished the game with two more strikes. Vujnovic scored once in the 61st minute while Akale put the cherry on the cake in added time. Liverpool hit the post in the 90th minute in their only real good chance of the game.
With the win in Liverpool, the Yellows, Group E leaders with seven points, move towards the quarter-finals of the competition. The group winners and best two runners-up will reach that stage. Álvarez’s side will have to wait for the rest of the group matches to see how it finishes.
Lineups:
Liverpool FC: George; Hoever, García (Neco Williams, m. 88), Masterson, Williams; Coyle (Sharif, m. 70), Millar, Dixon-Bonner, McAuley (Duncan, m. 77); Longstaff, Larouci.
Villarreal CF: Diego Fuoli; Joan Salvà, Roger Riera, Carlos Blanco, Edu Adell; Ramón Bueno (Iván Martín, m. 45), Sergio Lozano, Fran Álvarez; Mario González (Akale, m. 77), Dani Villa (Adrián Riera, m. 45), Nikola Vujnovic.
Goals: 0-1. Min. 3: Mario González. 0-2. Min. 8: Sergio Lozano. 0-3. Min. 14: Mario González. 0-4. Min. 22: Nikola. 0-5. Min. 52: Adrián Riera. 0-6. Min. 61: Nikola. 0-7. Min. 92: Akale.
Referee: Peter Gibbons. Booked: Adrián Riera y Lozano (Villarreal).
Matchday information: Matchday 3 of the Premier League International Cup group stage between Villarreal U23s and Liverpool U23s at the LFC Academy.
