Liverpool Under-21s 0 Benfica B 2
A classy Benfica side comfortably beat Liverpool U21s 2-0 in the International Cup fixture at Chester.
The Portuguese team were the better technical side throughout and even in the prevailing cold and wet ‘English conditions’ the Reds barely troubled Miguel Santos in their goal.
Striker Diogo Goncalves got the deserved opener in the 36th minute, opening out his body to curl a lovely right foot shot past Andy Firth in the Liverpool goal after a good pass from the impressive Sancidino Silva.
Goncalves was involved in everything for the visitors and turned provider for the crucial second early in the second half, linking well with Joao Carvalho who slotted calmly past Firth.
Jose Enrique started at left-back for the Reds but struggled to get into the game, an excellent right foot cross which just evaded Jack Dunn at the back post his main contribution before being replaced by Sam Hart at half-time. He looks well away from any return to the first team.
Benfica’s first chance of the game arrived in the 10th minute and a mistake almost proved costly in the Reds defence.
The normally reliable Tom Brewitt left a back pass short and that man Goncalves looked to be favourite to open the scoring but Firth was off his line in a flash to smother his effort.
Benfica fielded six of the team who defeated the Reds’ U19s 2-1 in the Champions League knock-out stages in February although strangely the man of the match then, striker Hildeberto Pereira, appeared mostly here as a right back.
Jack Dunn, still recovering from injury, had the Reds’ best chance of the first half, latching on to a mistake from Pawel Dawidowicz but his shot was tame and straight at Santos.
But overall the Reds struggled to get captain and playmaker Cameron Brannagan on the ball and created little.
Benfica looked quick and incisive as they broke all night and Pedro Rebocho should have done better than hit the side netting after being released by Goncalves on 25 minutes.
Pedro Rodrigues shot straight at Firth after a short corner routine while it took a superb block by centre-back Joe Maguire to deny Goncalves just before his opener.
Even the loss of captain Joao Nunes just before half-time wasn’t enough to disrupt the Portuguese though Liverpool were a bit improved second half with matty virtue combative in midfield.
Tom Brewitt slotted home a rebound when Santos pushed away Matty Virtue’s shot but the flag was rightly up for offside while Jerome Sinclair blocked a Santos clearance and the keeper was pleased to see the rebound go out for a goal kick.
Persistence from substitute Sam Hart created a big chance for Sinclair but Santos saved well but it took another good block from Maguire to deny Carvalho after more good work from Silva.
After a defeat by Chelsea in their opening game, Liverpool’s hope of progression in the International Cup seem over.
