Bobby Clark scored the winning penalty as Liverpool’s shoot-out joy continued with a dramatic UEFA Youth League victory.
Just three days after the first team had won the Carabao Cup on spot kicks, the under-19s saw off Genk 4-3 on penalties in their round of 16 tie after a tense 1-1 draw at the Academy at Kirkby on Wednesday afternoon.
Harvey Davies saved from Genk skipper Tuur Rommens and Jay-Dee Geusens and, after Dom Corness missed a chance to win the game, Clark kept his nerve to set up a quarter-final tie at Juventus – who won on penalties at AZ Alkmaar – later this month.
Oakley Cannonier had given Liverpool the lead with his 28th goal of the season shortly before the break only for Guesens to strike a fine equaliser five minutes into the second half.
Liverpool were without Kaide Gordon, Tyler Morton, Conor Bradley and Owen Beck, who had all featured during the group stage but have since gone on to appear for the first team.
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In a scrappy first quarter, the Reds had the best of the few chances with Mateusz Musialowski testing Genk goalkeeper Tobe Leysen from range while Cannonier had a shot blocked after good play by James Norris down the left.
The visitors, though, were a constant danger with balls in behind the Liverpool defence, and from one such opportunity Deniz Arabaci forced a smart save from Davies at the near post before Bilal El Khannous shot wide from the subsequent corner.
Liverpool slowly began to assert their authority and were close when Melkamu Frauendorf robbed Genk centre-back Kamiel van de Perre on the edge of the area and played in Cannonier, only for Leysen to make a decent sprawling stop.
But Cannonier wasn’t to be denied two minutes before the interval, stopping to head home Max Woltman’s attempted shot after Norris had released Frauendorf down the left to cross to the far post.
However, Genk were level five minutes into the second half when a passage of slack play at the back from Liverpool ended with Billy Koumetio’s clearance landing at the feet of Jay-Dee Geusens, who then progressed and smashed a brilliant left-foot finish beyond Davies from the edge of the area.
Liverpool struggled to regain the initiative, and although Woltman was denied twice by Leysen in quick succession at the near post, Genk were the better team in the second half with Adnane Abid nearest to a winner when breaking away down the left and cutting inside before striking the woodwork.
Then came the drama of the penalties with Davies ultimately providing Clark the opportunity to complete a hard-earned triumph.
Liverpool are next in action in the U18 Premier League North at Stoke City on Saturday (kick-off 11.30am).
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Davies; Mabaya, Quansah, Koumetio, Norris; Balagizi, Corness; Musialowski (Clark 68), Woltman, Frauendorf; Cannonier (O’Rourke 68). Subs: Mrozek, Jonas, Miles, Scanlon, Pilling.
