This evening in the packed out Coleraine Showgrounds ended in equilibrium for Liverpool and GPS FC Bayern junior sides.
Bayern were awarded a free kick in the opening seconds of the game, taken by their number 15 Tyler Melo who sent it over the bar, however the first half got off to a quiet start, with not much action. Evidently both teams were taking some time to settle themselves into play.
Bayern’s number 16 Gavin Kilkenny delivered a decent attacking performance, but Bayern were unable to create any real chances in the opening stages of the game. An impressive performance from Liverpool’s number 3 Reece McGinley began in the first half, but his good ball in was collected comfortably by the Bayern keeper. A chance for Liverpool came when McGinley sent the ball in the way of Liverpool’s superb number 9 Paul Glatzel only for it to go wide.
In the latter stages of the first half the young Liverpool side thundered into the lead, when a lovely ball from their number 10 Curtis Jones met number 11 Glen McCauley for the first goal of the game.
A huge chance for Bayern in the closing stages of the first half came when number 12 Andy Echemendia Prieto threatened close to goal but his efforts were intercepted by the Liverpool defence.
The second half began with a dominant Liverpool side, and a ball from number 10 Jones was met by the Bayern keeper Ryan Manning early on. Jones’ free kick from close range shortly after was sent over the bar, however he proved impressive at the beginning of the second half.
A determined Bayern attempted to turn up the pressure, but were unable to compete against the link-up of Liverpool’s fantastic number 11 McCauley and and number 9 Glatzel, two of the outstanding Liverpool players of the fixture.
Liverpool’s number 3 McGinley was impressive in the second half, pressing towards goal with persistence on numerous occasions, but it was FC Bayern who claimed the next goal when number 9 Kevin Berrios equalised for his delighted side towards the tail end of the game. Despite a tantalising shot from a more settled Bayern side, the ball slammed the far post and the fixture ended in the Showgrounds with both sides one apiece.
Match Report by Nicole McNicholl