U21s beaten on penalties by Leicester

Lyndon Lloyd , 16 April, 4comments | Jump to most recent

Everton Under-21s are out of the Premier League International Cup at the quarter-final stage after they lost 4-3 on penalties in Leicester following a 2-2 draw.

Chris Long put the Blues ahead in just the 10th minute with his first goal since returning from a loan spell at Brentford but the hosts drew level 11 minutes later through Panayiotou.

Everton lost both Long and his strike parter David Henen to injury but almost won it in regulation time when Liam Walsh hit the bar with a free kick and saw another direct set-piece effort tipped over the bar in the closing stages.

Leicester turned the tie on its head in extra time when Panayiotou grabbed his second four minutes into extra time but Henen's replacement, Harry Charsley, equalised a few minutes later.

There were no further goals so the game moved to penalties where Everton were handed an advantage by goalkeeper Russell Griffiths' save at 3-2 but successive misses by skipper Jonjoe Kenny and Tyias Browning allowed Leicester to win it with the final spot-kick.

Manager David Unsworth felt the result was cruel on his side for whom he had plenty of praise.

“It was cruel.” he told evertonfc.com. “The lads were outstanding from the first minute to the last second of extra time — the performance merited a win. They showed great character to come back against a proper Under-21 aide, especially given we were basically a youth side out there.

“I am really proud of the performance and the way that they put the work in. Our fitness levels were incredible — we kept going and kept going and the young lads really brought a spark to the game."

Everton U21s: Griffiths, Kenny, Robinson, Browning, Galloway, Ledson, Walsh, Dowell, Davies, Henen, Long
Subs: Hunt, Connolly, Donohue, Charsley, Dyson, Langton, Byrne

Reader Comments (4)

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Dave Abrahams
1 Posted 16/04/2015 at 20:37:42

I hope Everton recalled Chris Long from Brentford to give him some time in the first team, before the season is over. Pity he got injured today, hope it isnÂ’t serious.

Craig Tomasinski
2 Posted 17/04/2015 at 00:51:49

I believe that Chris Long is actually still on loan at Brentford but there is a rule where parent clubs can use that player in youth games. Something to do with a youth loan rule.

Ajay Gopal
3 Posted 17/04/2015 at 17:54:22

Injuries to Henen and Long are worrying. I hope they are nothing serious.

The lad Harry CharsleyÂ’s name is popping up frequently. I hope he turns out to be the answer to our prayers for a home grown striker!

Phill Thompson
4 Posted 17/04/2015 at 19:32:18

Ajay, Charsley is more of an attacking midfielder, although he does seem to have a knack of popping up in the right place to score goals.

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