RANGERS U19s went down 4-3 in a hard-fought encounter with Liverpool U19s in the UEFA Youth League at Firhill this afternoon.
A back-and-forth encounter seen the Reds race out to a 3-1 lead despite Charlie Lindsay scoring early from the penalty spot.
The Young Gers pulled the game back to level terms following a spirited second half showing, with Arron Lyall and Robbie Ure grabbing a goal each, before they were eventually undone ten minutes from time by the visitors.
David McCallum named an attacking lineup for the visit of Liverpool, with the 2006-born duo of Zak Lovelace and Bailey Rice given the nod from the start.
Jacob Pazikas was called into action just five minutes into the contest when Ben Doak latched onto Luke Chambers’ downfield pass, springing down low to deny the Liverpool winger.
The Reds took an early lead just minutes later. Doak was instrumental again for the visitors as he collected a pass at the far post before working a half yard of space; his cut-back was denied initially but the ball fell invitingly to Oakley Cannonier who prodded home.
However, Rangers responded instantly from the penalty spot. Zak Lovelace showed tremendous endeavour to muscle his way through on goal, drawing a foul from the onrushing Liverpool goalkeeper inside the penalty area.
Charlie Lindsay made no mistake from 12 yards out, firing low into the bottom corner beyond the outstretched arm of Harvey Davies.
Liverpool restored their advantage in the 18th minute to cap off a frantic opening period. Bobby Clark thread a neat pass into Melkamu Frauendorf who took his time before curling a finish beyond Pazikas.
Luke Chambers then combined with the goalscorer Frauendorf minutes later, with Jack Harkness producing a fantastic block to thwart the latter’s goalbound effort.
Liverpool looked particularly threatening down the left-hand side, with Chambers pulling the ball back into Cannonier before the Reds forward spurned a chance from six yards out.
Rangers poured forward in the 31st minute in search of an equalizer and they were cruelly unfortunate not to bring the game back to level terms. Connor Allan was sent through by a neat pass from Lindsay and, when his initial effort was denied, Robbie Ure sent a header from the rebound inches wide.
The away side extended their advantage minutes later. Cannonier raced through on goal and, although Pazikas was equal to his first effort, the ball ricocheted back to the Liverpool forward and he had the simplest of tasks to stroke into an empty net.
Liverpool were reduced to ten men immediately after the restart when Lee Jonas hauled down Ure as the Gers forward raced through on goal from a Robbie Fraser through pass.
The two combined in the 58th minute to fashion a promising opportunity. Fraser clipped a neat pass into the forward’s path before he engineered the space for a shot that narrowly flashed wide of the far post.
The Light Blues reduced the arrears on the stroke of the hour mark. Arron Lyall combined expertly with Lovelace inside the penalty area before keeping his cool to slot the ball under the onrushing Liverpool goalkeeper.
The home side enjoyed a greater share of possession with the man advantage, and Fraser almost picked out Ure once again with a whipped delivery from the left.
Rangers completed the comeback in the 70th minute after terrific set up play from Lovelace. The 16-year-old ghosted past one defender before dancing around another; his effort at goal connected with the post before the ball squirmed its way towards the grateful Ure who tapped home from close range.
Lovelace connected with a Fraser cross from the left minutes later, but the forward’s header drifted wide.
However, Liverpool restored their advantage ten minutes from time. Doak collected a loose ball from a corner on the right before dancing through several Rangers players and firing into the bottom corner.
Connor Young entered the fray from the bench with eight minutes remaining as the Light Blues went in search of a leveller.
The home side threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser, engineering a few neat attacking movements, but Liverpool stood strong to protect their lead.
Next up for the Young Gers is a trip to Italy to face SSC Napoli in the penultimate game of the group.
RANGERS: Pazikas, Harkness, MacKinnon, Allen (Young, 82), Fraser, Rice (Nsio, 70), Lindsay, Allan, Lyall, Ure, Lovelace
UNUSED SUBS: Munn, K. Ewen, Strachan, Pasnik, Graham
LIVERPOOL: Davies, Miles, Jonas, Quansah, Chambers, McConnell, Corness, Clark, Doak (Pilling, 90), Frauendorf, Cannonier (Koumas, 38)
UNUSED SUBS: Hewitson, Hayes-Green, Pilling, Kone-Doherty, Gyimah
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