It was a humiliating experience for Liverpool under-18s as they lost 5-2 to Sunderland, but the returning Lewis Koumas had a double.
Sunderland U18 5:2 Liverpool U18
Premier League U18, Academy of Light
March 18 , 2023
Goals: Moore 3′, Cotcher 13′ 21′, Water 47′ 51′; Koumas 6′ 81′
Koumas, who was disqualified for the defeat by Sporting in the UEFA Under-19 Youth League, instead began playing for the under-18 team as part of an attention-grabbing forward.
Looking at the composition of the team, one could go back to the mid-2000s, when Koumas, Dunns and Figueroa took their places in the attack.
Of course, it wasn’t Jason Koumas, Neil Dannes and Maynor Figueroa, but their sons Lewis, Jayden and Carol, who at least brought a positive on a miserable day for Liverpool.
Against the tall, physical and in many positions much older Sunderland, the young Reds struggled defensively and were defeated countless times.
Often they were saved by the last tackles of players like Luca Fernell-Gill or goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek, but Sunderland scored three goals in the first 21 minutes.
Koumas deflected Ethan Moore’s first shot with a sumptuous header, but Mason Cotcher scored twice for the hosts as a weak backline was exposed.
Jake Waters made the score 5:1 after the break, scoring two quick goals, and Liverpool coach Mark Bridge-Wilkinson may have wondered what could have happened after midfielder Kieran Morrison missed an important moment just 14 seconds into the first half.
Sunderland had more opportunities and Mrozek held on well in the latter stages of the game to avoid further suffering.
And Koumas reduced the gap at a late stage, scoring a brilliant goal, marking his first appearance for the U18 since October and bringing the season’s score to 13.
Liverpool Under-18s: Mrozek; Davidson (Osborne, 66), Fernell-Gill (Pitt, 87), Pinnington, Giblin; Laffey, Kelly (Onanuga, 77′), Morrison (Gift, 66′); Figueroa, Koumas, Dunns
Unused replacements: Hewitson
Next match: Wolves (D) — Premier League Under 18 — Saturday, April 1, 12:00 (BST)
