Waterford United 1 - 0 Liverpool XI
Credit:
As the majority of the 5000 strong crowd wore the red of the five times champions of Europe, it was the loyal band of Blues fans that were left celebrating when Cork referee Anthony Buttimer sounded the final whistle as Seamus Long’s header, his first goal in three years, ensured that Paul O’Brien’s side produced the shock of all shocks to overcome the Premier League giants reserve side by a 1-0 margin.
This was no fluke result as Waterford played some of their best football this season to date after after Liverpool netminder Tyrell Belford had made save after save during the course of the first half, there was nothing that he could do to deny the Blues their night of glory.
United should have taken the lead on two minutes when Gary Dunphy sent in a corner kick from the left that found the head of captain Kevin Murray but his cracking close range header was brilliantly kept out by Liverpool net minder Tyrell Belford.
The Anfield goalkeeper was also called into action three minutes later when Michael Coady cross come shot from the left was magnificently tipped over the crossbar at the expense of a corner kick before the Premier League reserve side had their only real chance of the half on 13 minutes. Krisztian Adorjan played a superb through ball after dispossessing Paul Carey just outside the Blues penalty area and when he set up Nabil El Zhar, he fired wide from the left side of the penalty area.
Blues left-winger Dwayne Wilson showed his skill to outpace Stephen Sama down the left less than sixty seconds later as United went in search of the breakthrough and when his cross found Adam McSherry, he was denied by a superb Belford save. After controlling the majority of the first half, Waterford would have gone in happy at the half time break with Liverpool having a half chance in injury time but David Amoo headed harmlessly over the crossbar.
The home side had the ball in the Liverpool net six minutes into the second half when Dwayne Wilson picked out Gary Keane but although his close range effort beat keeper Tyrell Belford, his effort was ruled out by the offside flag of assistant referee Adam Tszampel but the Blues next chance yielded what proved to be the winning goal.
Conor Sinnott played in a super right-wing free kick that found the head of Seamus Long on 65 minutes and his beautiful header gave keeper Tyrell Belford no chance whatsoever as the home crowd went wild.
It was a goal that the home side deserved as they produced their best display of the season in this friendly clash as they really put the visitors under pressure as the visitors offered very little going forward during the course of the tie.
Waterford United should have doubled their lead on 82 minutes when Paul Phelan slipped Sean Maguire clear on goal but despite outpacing the Red defence, he dragged a left-footed shot inches wide of the right-upright and while Liverpool did have a period of late pressure, they never looked like scoring as the Blues held out for a famous triumph.
WATERFORD UNITED: Burns; Carey (Nolan `56), Murray (Breen `52), Browne, Coady; Walsh (McGrath `78) Dunphy (Sinnott `52), Long (Heaslip `73), Wilson (Phelan `52); McSherry, Keane (Maguire `78)
LIVERPOOL FC: Belford, Mendy (King `74), Sama, Smith, McGiveron, Roberts (Suso `H/T), Hadju, Emilsson (Ecclestone `H/T), Adorjan (Roddan `63), El Zhar (Silva `73), Amoo (Stirling `H/T)
Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork)
(With thanks to Adrian Flanagan, Waterford News and Star)
This was no fluke result as Waterford played some of their best football this season to date after after Liverpool netminder Tyrell Belford had made save after save during the course of the first half, there was nothing that he could do to deny the Blues their night of glory.
United should have taken the lead on two minutes when Gary Dunphy sent in a corner kick from the left that found the head of captain Kevin Murray but his cracking close range header was brilliantly kept out by Liverpool net minder Tyrell Belford.
The Anfield goalkeeper was also called into action three minutes later when Michael Coady cross come shot from the left was magnificently tipped over the crossbar at the expense of a corner kick before the Premier League reserve side had their only real chance of the half on 13 minutes. Krisztian Adorjan played a superb through ball after dispossessing Paul Carey just outside the Blues penalty area and when he set up Nabil El Zhar, he fired wide from the left side of the penalty area.
Blues left-winger Dwayne Wilson showed his skill to outpace Stephen Sama down the left less than sixty seconds later as United went in search of the breakthrough and when his cross found Adam McSherry, he was denied by a superb Belford save. After controlling the majority of the first half, Waterford would have gone in happy at the half time break with Liverpool having a half chance in injury time but David Amoo headed harmlessly over the crossbar.
The home side had the ball in the Liverpool net six minutes into the second half when Dwayne Wilson picked out Gary Keane but although his close range effort beat keeper Tyrell Belford, his effort was ruled out by the offside flag of assistant referee Adam Tszampel but the Blues next chance yielded what proved to be the winning goal.
Conor Sinnott played in a super right-wing free kick that found the head of Seamus Long on 65 minutes and his beautiful header gave keeper Tyrell Belford no chance whatsoever as the home crowd went wild.
It was a goal that the home side deserved as they produced their best display of the season in this friendly clash as they really put the visitors under pressure as the visitors offered very little going forward during the course of the tie.
Waterford United should have doubled their lead on 82 minutes when Paul Phelan slipped Sean Maguire clear on goal but despite outpacing the Red defence, he dragged a left-footed shot inches wide of the right-upright and while Liverpool did have a period of late pressure, they never looked like scoring as the Blues held out for a famous triumph.
WATERFORD UNITED: Burns; Carey (Nolan `56), Murray (Breen `52), Browne, Coady; Walsh (McGrath `78) Dunphy (Sinnott `52), Long (Heaslip `73), Wilson (Phelan `52); McSherry, Keane (Maguire `78)
LIVERPOOL FC: Belford, Mendy (King `74), Sama, Smith, McGiveron, Roberts (Suso `H/T), Hadju, Emilsson (Ecclestone `H/T), Adorjan (Roddan `63), El Zhar (Silva `73), Amoo (Stirling `H/T)
Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork)
(With thanks to Adrian Flanagan, Waterford News and Star)
