Everton Academy 1 – 2 Punjab FC [PKs: 3 – 4]
A team of Everton U17 players lost their final group game in the Premier League Next Generation Cup at Tamworth this evening against the third Indian opponent, Punjab FC, kick-off delayed from 6:00 pm to 6:20 pm.
Everton go into this last round of games in pole position having won both their previous outings and secured extra points in the ensuing penalty shoot-outs that follow each of the 50-minute games.
The 20-man squad is the core of last season’s Under-18s side, augmented by new graduates and a couple of new signings that have boosted the section available to coach Leighton Baines.
The Blues wore the new charcoal black away third kit and looked to give up the first goal when a chance was created and then spurned by Punjab. But Everton opened the scoring after a great feed from Jacob Beaumont-Clark to put the young Toffees ahead after just 4 minutes.
Everton caused themselves a problem when Aled Thomas was caught in possession at the back but Punjab could not convert the chance their keen pressing had created. Punjab were making the game very competitive, perhaps a reaction to the hammering Everton gave their compatriots from East Bengal yesterday!
Everton were coming under some pressure but Lukjanciks saved a speculative shot and set Everton on the attack, with a decent attempt from Foster, a strong lad who looks very good at this level.
After the break, out of nothing, Punjab equalized with a clever lob that beat Lukjanciks all hands down. Everton huffed and puffed but Punjab again pulled a sucker punch, a shot from a defender beating Lukjansciks and in off the post.
And that’s the way it stayed. Everton were just outplayed by a very determined Indian side.
So to penalties: George Finney lashed the first high into the top corner; Punjab also scored [1 – 1]
Next up was Jacob Beaumont-Clark, who sent the keeper the wrong way; Punjab also scored [2 – 2]
Kean Wrensaw his penalty saved as the keeper guessed right; Lukajanciks did the business to keep Punjab out [2 – 2]
Joel Catesby hammered his penalty home; the Punjab player just rolled it down the middle [3 – 3]
Callum Bates shockingly lashed his penalty over the crossbar! And Punjab sealed the extra point with Everton finishing the group stage very disappointingly. [3 – 4]
Everton U17s: Lukjanciks, Freedman, Thomas (42′ Samuels-Smith), Van Schoor, Matos [Y:21′] (47′ Gardener), Foster, Lambert (26 Finney), Stewart (45′ Catesby), Graham (42′ Bates), Beaumont-Clark, Catesby (26′ Roberts). (42′ Wren)
The game was streamed live on YouTube: Everton Academy vs Punjab FC, .