After initially trailing by a goal after 13 minutes, City returned in style- scoring three goals to take three points from current Premier League 2 leaders Liverpool.
Two first half strikes from Lorenzo Gonzalez and Rabbi Matondo and a third from Felix Nmecha saw the Blues seal a win in our first game of 2018.
What happened
Liverpool took the lead after just 13 minutes of play when the Reds skipper, Harry Wilson, was awarded a penalty following an incorrectly-timed sliding tackle from Joel Latibeaudiere. The captain stepped up and took the kick from the spot which fired past Curtis Anderson and made it 1-0 to the visitors.
It took seven minutes for City to level up the score, Gonzalez collected Tom Dele-Bashiru’s pass and chipped his effort over Kamil Grabara into the bottom corner of the net.
The first half was dampened by Benjamin Garre’s injury after he was stretchered off in visible discomfort after colliding with Wilson just moments after City’s equaliser.
Due to Garre’s injury, it meant eight extra minutes were added to the clock. Just as the teams embarked into injury time Matondo was on hand to superbly slalom around the Liverpool defence and strike a low-riding effort into the goal from a tight angle to give the home-side the lead.
Matondo seemed to burst into action after swapping to the left wing following his goal, and was close to netting a second when Blues skipper Jacob Davenport pinpointed the Welshman and prompted an impressive save from the Liverpool ‘keeper.
City were lucky not to concede a second goal in the fourth minute of extra-time when Brewster’s bullet-like shot bounced off Anderson’s near post and into his hands.
In the sixth minute of injury time, Brewster – who had arguably been Liverpool’s stand out player in the first half – was the second player of the match to be stretchered off after he landed awkwardly on his ankle.
The injury resulted in an extra 14 minutes of play.
In the second half, the visitors had frequent chances but a combination of wide-fired shots and Anderson’s quick responses kept the Reds at bay.
Although it looked like Liverpool were brewing a second goal, it would be Simon Davies’ side who were the next on the scoresheet.
Nmecha collected Dilrosun’s perfect pass in the box and secured the third of City’s goals of the evening.
It looked as though it was over after Nmecha’s goal, but Liverpool were able to snatch one more goal back to make it 3-2 in the 89th minute, courtesy of Toni Gomes’ strike.
How they lined up
England Under 17s World Cup ‘keeper Curtis Anderson took his place in goal, with a back four of Ed Francis, Charlie Oliver, Joel Latibeaudiere and skipper Jacob Davenport.
Matt Smith took his defensive midfield role with Tom Dele-Bashiru and Javairo Dilrosun alongside.
Benjamin Garre and Rabbi Matondo flanked Lorenzo Gonzalez up front.
What it means
City’s win over the table leaders means the Blues increase their point tally to 16 thanks to their fourth win of the season.
Up next
City’s next opponents are Leicester City, and Simon Davies’ side will travel away to Holmes Park on Monday 29 January to face the Foxes in the Premier League 2.
