Lauri Dalla Valle and Daniel Pacheco were on the mark as Liverpool Reserves reached the final of the Lancashire Senior cup after a 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic on Wednesday afternoon.
The Finn netted the opening goal with a clinical header from a corner just past the hour mark. It was a sweet moment for the No.9 after he scored in last week's Liverpool Senior Cup semi-final victory over Tranmere Rovers.
The corner came after Jay Spearing had almost scored with a rasping 25-yard drive that was brilliantly saved by Wigan's Serbian stopper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Dalla Valla had a quiet game overall but John McMahon has labeled him a natural goalscorer and that's what he does best. He had two chances, had one superbly saved and scored the winner from the other.
The second goal arrived two minutes from time when Pacheco scored after a jinking run and superb finish. The Spaniard was making his return to action after missing first-team games with Wigan and Lille last week because of a training camp with Spain Under-19s.
It was a hard-fought victory and John McMahon's side, with skipper Jay Spearing a calming influence in midfield, worked their socks off against good opposition.
The Reds are aiming for a possible treble this season with the league title in their sights, a place in the final of the Liverpool Senior Cup and now a chance to win the Lancashire Senior Cup.
Since the opening day 3-2 defeat at Blackburn McMahon's side have now gone 13 games unbeaten with 12 wins in the process.
The Reds also meet the Latics in the Barclays Premier Reserve League North next Thursday. McMahon was without the injured Chris Mavinga so Steven Irwin took over at left-back while Spearing and Damien Plessis linked up in central midfield.
Wigan also fielded a team with several experienced players and with former Liverpool and Everton defender Dave Watson in joint charge of their side alongside Graham Barrow, the Latics made a bright start to the game.
Left-winger Rachid Bouaouzan in particular caused Emmanuel Mendy endless problems with his trickery, until the Senegalese defender was forced to leave the field with an injury in the 34th minute.
Liverpool's best chances in the first half fell to Dalla Valle and Pachecho with the Spaniard missing two great clear chances.
After nine minutes Pacheco's superb pass gave Dalla Valle a chance. The Finn showed great strength to hold off the experienced Steve Gohouri but was denied by a superb stop from Serbian stopper Vladimir Stojkovic.
The game was developing into a physical battle with Dalla Valle and David Amoo in particular on the end of strong tackles.
Wigan were always dangerous going forward with the classy Joe Holt and Polish schemer Tomasz Cywka casuing the Reds problems.
Cywka had two great openings - the best of them came from a sloppy Pacheco back pass that cut his defence wide open.
A misplaced pass then gave Pacheco a clear opening just outside the box but the Spaniard could only drag the effort wide of the goal.
Peter Gulacsi then showed his qualities when the Hungarian stopper produced a brave save to deny Cywka.
Bouaouzan then had the best chance of the half after 26 minutes when his curled effort beat Gulacsi but came off the post.
McMahon's side then had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when Irwin's brilliant cross from the right caused all sorts of problems. The ball fell to Pacheco who had a clear sight of goal but unfortunately he fired wide of the goal.
Liverpool stepped it up after the break and took their goals brilliantly. Wigan had their moments in the second half but the Reds held firm at the back with Daniel Ayala and Victor Palsson outstanding.
The Finn netted the opening goal with a clinical header from a corner just past the hour mark. It was a sweet moment for the No.9 after he scored in last week's Liverpool Senior Cup semi-final victory over Tranmere Rovers.
The corner came after Jay Spearing had almost scored with a rasping 25-yard drive that was brilliantly saved by Wigan's Serbian stopper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Dalla Valla had a quiet game overall but John McMahon has labeled him a natural goalscorer and that's what he does best. He had two chances, had one superbly saved and scored the winner from the other.
The second goal arrived two minutes from time when Pacheco scored after a jinking run and superb finish. The Spaniard was making his return to action after missing first-team games with Wigan and Lille last week because of a training camp with Spain Under-19s.
It was a hard-fought victory and John McMahon's side, with skipper Jay Spearing a calming influence in midfield, worked their socks off against good opposition.
The Reds are aiming for a possible treble this season with the league title in their sights, a place in the final of the Liverpool Senior Cup and now a chance to win the Lancashire Senior Cup.
Since the opening day 3-2 defeat at Blackburn McMahon's side have now gone 13 games unbeaten with 12 wins in the process.
The Reds also meet the Latics in the Barclays Premier Reserve League North next Thursday. McMahon was without the injured Chris Mavinga so Steven Irwin took over at left-back while Spearing and Damien Plessis linked up in central midfield.
Wigan also fielded a team with several experienced players and with former Liverpool and Everton defender Dave Watson in joint charge of their side alongside Graham Barrow, the Latics made a bright start to the game.
Left-winger Rachid Bouaouzan in particular caused Emmanuel Mendy endless problems with his trickery, until the Senegalese defender was forced to leave the field with an injury in the 34th minute.
Liverpool's best chances in the first half fell to Dalla Valle and Pachecho with the Spaniard missing two great clear chances.
After nine minutes Pacheco's superb pass gave Dalla Valle a chance. The Finn showed great strength to hold off the experienced Steve Gohouri but was denied by a superb stop from Serbian stopper Vladimir Stojkovic.
The game was developing into a physical battle with Dalla Valle and David Amoo in particular on the end of strong tackles.
Wigan were always dangerous going forward with the classy Joe Holt and Polish schemer Tomasz Cywka casuing the Reds problems.
Cywka had two great openings - the best of them came from a sloppy Pacheco back pass that cut his defence wide open.
A misplaced pass then gave Pacheco a clear opening just outside the box but the Spaniard could only drag the effort wide of the goal.
Peter Gulacsi then showed his qualities when the Hungarian stopper produced a brave save to deny Cywka.
Bouaouzan then had the best chance of the half after 26 minutes when his curled effort beat Gulacsi but came off the post.
McMahon's side then had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when Irwin's brilliant cross from the right caused all sorts of problems. The ball fell to Pacheco who had a clear sight of goal but unfortunately he fired wide of the goal.
Liverpool stepped it up after the break and took their goals brilliantly. Wigan had their moments in the second half but the Reds held firm at the back with Daniel Ayala and Victor Palsson outstanding.
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