Harry Kewell made a triumphant return to action as Liverpool Reserves defeated Newcastle United in front of a bumper crowd at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The Australia international, who has been out of action since August, scored a stunning first-half header during a lively 45 minute appearance in Gary Ablett's side's impressive 2-1 win.
Jordy Brouwer was the Reds' other marksman as the Reserves produced a fine display to secure the second victory of their Barclays Premier Reserve League North campaign.
Ablett gave a debut to young defender Martin Kelly for the visit of the Magpies and he made a good impression up against former England Under-21 international Shola Ameobi, with the Reds dominating from the start.
The home side's first opportunity of the match came on eight minutes when Nabil El Zhar cut in from the right and fizzed a well-struck effort into the side netting.
It was a sign of things to come as the majority of the first-half saw one-way traffic directed towards the Newcastle goal.
Kewell was next to try his luck as his 25-yard effort was superbly tipped past the post by Fraser Forster in the visitors' goal.
Jay Spearing then found Craig Lindfield with a cleverly disguised pass but his powerful strike from the right-hand side of the penalty area flew just over the crossbar.
On 30 minutes Kewell gave the Warrington crowd a cameo of what Liverpool's senior side have been missing in his absence as he raced on to a superb throw out by David Martin, turned his marker before releasing a through ball to Craig Lindfield - but the young forward was caught offside.
The pressure continued to mount and when Spearing's 20-yard effort was deflected for a corner Liverpool finally made the breakthrough.
Sebastian Leto delivered from the right allowing Kewell to rise majestically and thump an unstoppable header into the top corner.
It was a lead Liverpool more than deserved and they continued to enjoy the majority of the possession until they gifted Newcastle a surprise equaliser on 42 minutes.
Paraguayan defender Ronald Huth slipped at the vital moment allowing Jonathan Godsmark to race through and slide the ball past Martin.
It was a bitter blow for the home side but they responded well and although Kewell was replaced by Jordy Brouwer at half-time, they regained the lead on 53 minutes, courtesy of the Dutchman's second league goal of the season.
Craig Lindfield found space on the right and when his tame cross was fumbled by Forster, Brouwer was on hand to fire the ball into an empty net.
It was an embarrassing moment for the Newcastle keeper but he went some way to redeeming himself two minutes later when he reacted well to brilliantly deny Lindfield after Spearing found the striker in space just inside the penalty area.
In the final 30 minutes the away side enjoyed their best spell of the match but for all their fine approach play they failed to test David Martin in the Reds goal and the hosts held firm to clinch a deserved victory.
Teams: Liverpool Reserves: Martin, Darby, Insua, Kelly, Huth, Spearing, Plessis, Lindfield (Pacheco 82), El Zhar, Kewell (Brouwer 46 (Putterill 89)), Leto
Newcastle United Reserves: Forster, Bertram (Francis 61), Babayaro (Lough 67), Doninger (Danquah 82), Edgar, Morris, Lua Lua, Pattison, Ameobi, Godsmark, Troisi
Referee: Mr I K Scarr
Attendance: 3,171
Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match: Jay Spearing. Another accomplished performance from the midfield man. At the heart of all Liverpool's best moves. |
發表於 2007-10-26 10:22 AM
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