Our U18s suffered penalty shootout heartbreak in the FA Youth Cup third round on Wednesday evening.
After battling through 120 minutes against Sheffield Wednesday in a gripping encounter at Hillsborough, the young Reds were cruelly eliminated from the competition on spot-kicks, with the Owls successfully converting three to our one.
The hosts made a blistering start to the encounter and almost took the lead with four minutes on the clock after an excellent bit of link up play down the right. The resulting low ball across the box was swept goalward by Jarvis Thornton, but an inspired piece of goalkeeping from Rogan Ravenhill denied him from close range as he tipped it over the bar.
Wednesday continued to dominate possession and made the most of their bright start by bagging the opening goal. Rio Shipston’s wicked set-piece delivery from the left of the box fooled the Barnsley defence as the ball crept its way into the net at the back post.
The Reds were determined to find their way back into the contest following that setback, and some nice attacking play down the right led to Theo Chapman whipping in a dangerous cross towards the back post. However, the keeper was on hand to collect before onrushing Fabio Jalo could head home.
Despite their best efforts, our U18s were unable to find a way through and went in at half-time trailing but had grown into the encounter.
HALF-TIME: Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Barnsley
Within moments of the restart, Barnsley clawed their way back into the game in the form of a penalty. Following a clumsy challenge in the box on Jalo, who chopped across his man before being brought down, our Portuguese number nine took charge of the situation and stepped up for the spot kick, coolly slotting home past a helpless keeper and bringing the Reds back level.
Our U18s smelt blood as they searched for their second, looking to catch the hosts on the back foot with their quick start. Another attack down the left from Chapman led to the forward’s attempt being deflected out for a corner. The resulting ball in was straight to Rafael Monteiro who found himself completely unmarked in the box. However, his headed effort was cleared off the line by a Wednesday defender.
The Reds’ next opportunity came from Vimal Yoganathan, who looked to latch onto a bouncing ball on the edge of the box. Our midfielder made contact, but his effort went well wide as pressure from a Wednesday defender sent him to the ground.
Shortly after, an excellent ball over the top found its way to Benjamin by the corner flag. His first time looping cross into the box was met by freshly subbed on Alex Anaman, but his header was easily gathered by Pierce Charles.
Following one last Wednesday attack, the referee blew his whistle to signify the end of 90 minutes.
END OF 90 MINUTES: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Barnsley
Barnsley almost pulled ahead five minutes into extra-time through Monteiro. A beautiful pass from Josh McKay found our Portuguese midfielder at the back stick, however, he couldn’t quite find the right contact has his effort sailed over the bar.
Both teams struggled to keep up with the pace of the physically demanding challenge ahead of them as cramp affected multiple players throughout the first period of extra-time.
HALF-TIME IN EXTRA TIME: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Barnsley
Following a mix up in the Barnsley defence, Wednesday almost regained the lead as Thornton raced onto a loose ball. Quick reactions from Ravenhill denied him though as the keeper sprinted off his line to collect.
Neither team were able to break the deadlock in the extra thirty minutes, leaving the players with the daunting penalty shootout.
FULL-TIME IN EXTRA-TIME: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Barnsley
Despite making the perfect start to the shootout through Ravenhill’s save, our U18s were unable to take advantage as Monteiro was thwarted by Charles before Jonathan Bland saw his effort clip the crossbar after Cian Flannery had converted his.
Josiah Dyer levelled the scores with three penalties taken each, but Wednesday netted their remaining two spot-kicks either side of another Charles save from Charlie Hickingbottom’s attempt as the young Reds exited the FA Youth Cup in devastating fashion.
FULL-TIME: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Barnsley; Sheffield Wednesday win 3-1 on penalties
REDS XI: Ravenhill (GK), McKay, Benjamin, Bland, Hickingbottom (C), Pickard, Yoganathan, Makiessi, Jalo, Chapman, Monteiro.
Subs: Carter-Rogers, Brace, Murchison, Joof, Kozluk, Anaman, Dyer.