Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Academy Football: Michael Ngoo’s Penalty Earns Point And Keeps Liverpool’s Title Hopes Alive

Michael Ngoo’s penalty earned Liverpool under-18s a point at Sheffield United and kept up their hopes of finishing top of the Group C table in the Barclays Premier League.

Rodolfo Borrell’s youngsters are now five points behind Everton and must win both their final two matches to go ahead of Everton at the top.

Following the 4-0 midweek defeat to Everton, Liverpool’s title hopes were hit, but following the Blues shock 1-0 loss to Leeds in their final match, Saturday’s point keeps Liverpool in the hunt.

With four regulars missing due to their England U17s’ international commitments Liverpool had to dig deep after they went a goal down midway through the second half to FA Youth Cup finalists Sheffield. But substitute Ngoo was brought down in the area with 10 minutes to go to give Liverpool the chance to level it up from the spot. And the former Southend striker calmly fired home to give Borrell’s youngsters a share of the points.

Liverpool now faces Midlanders Wolverhampton Wanderers at home and away to complete the regular season. They must win in the Midlands today (11am) and at the Kirkby Academy on Friday to overtake Everton and secure a play in the national play-off semi-finals.

Liverpool defender Matty Regan was forced to pull out of John Peacock’s England U17s squad for the UEFA European U17 Championship in Serbia due to injury. That means there will be three representatives from the red half of Merseyside in Raheem Sterling, Adam Morgan and Brad Smith.

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