An added-time goal saw Everton Under-18s suffer a cruel 2-1 defeat in the Merseyside derby at the LFC Academy.
Liverpool took an early lead in the U18 Premier League (North) clash, but Tom Cannon kept his composure to successfully convert an added-time penalty to seemingly rescue a point before, unbelievably, Mateusz Musialowski scored a 95th-minute winner.
Everton made a poor start when the hosts took the lead after just 20 seconds, albeit with more than a touch of good fortune. Zan Luk-Leban made a smart save but the loose ball cannoned off Melkamu Frauendorf and into the net.
The visitors settled well after that, but Liverpool had the next opportunity when Melkamu Frauendorf was fouled a yard from the edge of the penalty area. Dom Corness took the free-kick but the wall did its job.
At the other end, Cannon was hauled down by Liverpool keeper Fabian Mrozek as he bore down on goal and, from the subsequent free-kick, Charlie Whittaker crashed the ball against the underside of the crossbar.
The Blues continued to press and Cannon swept an effort over the bar from a low corner before a snapshot half-volley from Luke Butterfield flashed wide of the target.
Liverpool won another dangerous free-kick on the half hour when Butterfield impeded Frauendorf and Kaide Gordon was only inches away from doubling the lead.
A good Everton move in the 34th minute ended when Sean McAllister pulled his shot harmlessly wide and shortly after, Cannon blasted a close-range angled effort high over the bar.
Cannon was really lively and a wonderful first-touch on 39 minutes allowed him a shot at goal but, again, the angle was against him.
The young Blues played some nice stuff in the opening 45 minutes and were unfortunate to be a goal down at the break.
Just before half-time, another swift attack ended when Butterfield’s drive was parried away by Mrozek.
The first attempt on goal from either side after the break came on the hour. Lewis Warrington found space inside the Liverpool box but his shot was straight at Mrozek. It was followed quickly by a speculative long-range attempt by Cannon that also failed to trouble the keeper.
Leban’s first involvement of the second half was when he smothered a low drive from Gordon in the 63rd minute.
With 15 minutes remaining, two Everton players were booked for fouls on the same player. Frauendorf picked the ball up by the halfway line and as he ran at the visiting defence he was tripped first by Daniel Lowey and then, as he kept his balance, by substitute Jensen Metcalfe.
Everton thought they’d salvaged a share of the spoils in added time when substitute Rafa Garcia was fouled inside the box and Cannon sent Mrozek the wrong way from 12 yards.
There was still time for Liverpool to score again – Musialowski sliding home a neat finish to break Everton hearts.
“That’s a really tough one to take," said Everton Under-18s manager Paul Tait. "Everything in the game, apart from the first minute and the last minute, was terrific.
“The goal at the beginning knocked us a bit but after that we created some really good chances and half-chances. But it’s all immaterial when you do well and work ever so hard, which every single one of them did, and get yourself in a wonderful position at the end but then don’t see the game out.
"They didn’t show the right mentality or the right defensive nous and it’s gutting for them. It’s sickening for the staff and the players.
"In derby games, a lot of the stuff that goes in between goals is irrelevant, because it doesn’t matter what level you play at, it’s all about the result.
"We’ll take some positives from the performance when we look at it on Monday, but not now because the lads are hurting."
