In front of a decent crowd allowed in for free on an afternoon where the weather became increasingly worse, a second-half strike from D’Angelo was enough, but in truth the young Blues side dominated proceedings.
City used the slick surface well to knock the ball around confidently against a big and imposing Liverpool side. Trialist Luca Scapuzzi, who had got on the scoresheet in the Dublin Super Cup, had City’s best first half chances. The Italian striker did not complete a first 45 minutes where tackles flew in thick and fast, and he was replaced, after taking a knock, by Devante Cole.
Eugenio Isnaldo, also being looked at on a trial basis, forced a good save low to his left out of Belford just after half time, and City deservedly took the lead shortly after. Jose D’Angelo, another trialist, cut in from the right to drill a left-footed shot past the Liverpool keeper’s fingertips and in off the post.
Abdul Razak, the only member of City’s side to boast competitive first team experience, showed that to good effect with a powerful display of both breaking up the play and distribution. He had his chances too, hitting a fierce free kick straight at the keeper, then seeing another long range drive take a deflection to go just wide.
Denis Suarez, a second-half replacement, also impressed and was unlucky not to score late on after skipping through the Liverpool defence, with Belford doing well at the last gasp to block.
The talented Spanish midfielder nearly repeated the move in the last minute and after doing all the hard work he could only watch as the ball rebounded off the post.
