Back from my one pint.
Chatted with a few of the local Liverpool supporters who came for the match. It was some good news after a bleak morning here.
Starting Line up:
--------Gulasci
Darby--Kelly--Huth---Insua
Flynn--Spearing--San Jose--Putterill
------------Simon
-----------Nemeth
Manager Ablett put out his strongest team I think for the final. The lads started well enough under a cool evening with no rain which was forecast. Which may have effected the attendance as I would estimate about 5,000 there.
In the second minute the ever lively down the left side Ray (razor) Putterill beats his man and sends in a nice cross from the endline only for Nemeth to head at the keeper. Tigres had a coach sitting in the stands down a section from us barking out orders for their back four. Didn't know that was allowed but our lads looked a comprehensive team and any edge one can get I guess.
In the tenth minutes San Jose sends a nice ball for Putterill to run onto down the left wing, he beats two defenders and sends a pull back pass for the waiting Nemeth to slot home with aplomb. Tigres 0-1 Liverpool.
In the fourteenth minute Flynn sends a hard shot in on goal at the near post only to see their keeper save it. Tough luck there as it looked a goal when he let the shot go. Putterill again bests his man and sends a dangerous ball into the box from the left wing only for Simon and Nemeth to see their keeper cut it out.
We continue to attack and press. Something I don't think Tigres were used to. Ablett would bark out instructions for the lads to stay on top of them. Our fitness levels after 5 matches in 8 days showed. Well done to those who keep the lads in top shape.
They just clear a ball in the box from the hard working Nemeth for a corner only for Spearing to take one short and Nemeth cause more problems before they clear the danger.
In the 25th Putterill again drives deep beating his man and sends a great ball back towards the top of the box for an on rushing Flynn to volley and it looks a goal but one defender gets a leg to it to block it. hard luck. great play by our lads.
But from the resulting corner, Spearing sends a low driving ball towards the near post for San Jose to flick on to the back post and Martin Kelley is there to head home, Tigres 0-2 Liverpool. 26th. Just like you draw it up. Excellent execution.
Then a minute later Nemeth gets the ball on the right hand side and sends a rasping shot goalward only for it to bounce away off the near post. Very unlucky.
Again another minute later Razor Putterill sends another teasing cross in to Simon who flicks the ball to Nemeth who just misses.
In the 31st Nemeth again dribbles through a couple players only to see the final touch get a bit past him as their keeper comes out to gather. Razor earns another corner in the 34th that they clear. We are well and truely in control as they look to counter attack but we sweep up any second ball coming into our half.
Nemeth again on a good run pulls the ball back after some excellent work but Mikel San Jose doesn't read his intention and a chance goes begging. Then just before halftime Flynn scores with a nice volley but was ruled offsides.
HT Tigres 0-2 Liverpool
The second half saw Dean Bouzanis come on for Peter Gulasci in goal. Nemeth goes wide with a shot in the 49th minute. At this point I think we take the foot off the gas and are comfortable with keeping them at bay. Tigres try to mount attacks but we repel them all before they get near our box. Our class was showing.
In the 57th Steven Irwin comes on for Mikel San Jose who gets a good round of applause for his role as a defensive midfield sweeper. We switch to a 4-2-3-1 just like the senior team and Tigres can't adapt. We stop everything coming at us as the lads are relentless in their pressure.
In the 61st minute Craig Lindfield comes on for Andras Simon. Simon played well in the link up striker role and he gets a good round of applause. 62nd minute sees Spearing take another quality corner to the back post where Martin Kelley heads on goal only for their keeper to be alert and catch at the back post.
72nd minute Daniel Ayala comes on for Ronald Huth. Huth was composed at the back and stopped virtually everything Tigres tried to do. Although once or twice I think Ablett got a grey hair as Ronald casually moved the ball away from their center half instead of getting rid of it quickly.
74th saw Tigres best chance from distance but Dean Bouzanis is alert and catches the hard volley from their #95.
Then Insua overlaps and sends a lovely ball into the box only for Craig Lindfield on the stretch to shoot over the bar from all of five yards out in the center of the goal area when it looked a certain goal in the 76th minute.
81st minute saw our 17 year old Gerardo Bruna ( who I found out speaks little English) come on for Ray Putterill who gets a great round of applause for his work down the left hand side.
In the 90th minute as we had been passing the ball around, we get a throw which sees the ball come to Bruna. He spots Nemeths run behind the defense and with a perfectly weighted sublime ball sends Kristain in on goal. Kristain slots home near post. Tigres 0-3 Liverpool.
A minute later the ref brings the final to a close and Liverpool FC are the Dallas Cup Super Group U19's Champions.
A trophy presentation was held. Tigres got their second place medals. And our Lads got the trophy and winners medals.
Motm..all the lads. It was a comprehensive very good performance.
After all the pictures were taken they came over to where we were and like I mentioned the lads tossed their shirts into the stands for the kids. Putterill gave the lad next to me his boots. I asked did he think they'd fit.
. Shin guards were tossed in by Insua. Bouzanis gave his keepers gloves to a lad who was a goal keeper.
But after it was all done Darby was one of the last over. As he walked back without a shirt on Razor Putterill comes up behind and pulls his shorts down. Much to the delight of all the lads and the crowd. Good team spirit with this lot.
I hope they enjoyed their time over here. I hope they saw that no matter where Liverpool goes they will never walk alone. And I hope they come back next year to defend their title.
I had a good time following them this week at all five matches. The match reports were fun to do. I know many enjoyed them and I want to thank you for saying so. Hope I was able to give a little impression of the lads and the tournament. If they do come back next year--y'all are welcome.