by JoeTerp » Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:47 pm
RESERVES THROUGH TO DALLAS FINAL
Paul Hassall 22 March 2008
Liverpool Reserves booked their place in the final of the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup after edging past a tricky Benfica side in an entertaining clash at the Pizza Hut Stadium on Friday night.
Goals from Andras Simon and Ryan Flynn secured a 2-1 win for Gary Ablett's men, who will now face Mexican outfit Tigres in the final on Sunday evening - a side they beat 5-1 during the group stage of the competition.
Ablett admitted he was both pleased and relieved to see his team progress to the final after SL Benfica provided his side, with what he felt, was a tough examination.
"It was a very, very difficult game against a technically gifted Benfica side," Ablett told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"They made it hard for us, especially in the second-half when they had a 25 minute spell where they could have gone ahead, but we held on and got a well worked goal late on.
"It was an important strike from Ryan as we were really tiring at that point and I don't think we would have fancied extra-time."
The Reds had gone ahead courtesy of a poacher's goal from Andras Simon on 33 minutes but were pegged back just after the hour mark when a swerving 30-yard strike from Simao bounced over the dive of Peter Gulacsi in the Reds goal.
It gave the Portuguese side the initiative and they enjoyed a dangerous spell of possession, in which time they hit the bar, before Liverpool swept forward and snatched victory courtesy of Flynn.
Substitute Krisztian Nemeth broke down the left and when he cut the ball back, Flynn was on hand to drill the ball home with just two minutes left.
Ahead of the match, Ablett was boosted by the arrival of the Hungarian trio of Gulacsi, Simon and Nemeth, who had missed the previous matches in the competition due to passport complications, and he was delighted by their contribution to a tight contest.
"Peter (Gulacsi) played very well in goal and was unlucky for their goal and he just couldn't get across to it after what appeared to be a slight deflection," said Ablett.
"As for the other two Hungarians, Andras Simon and Krisztian Nemeth both played a half each and Simon worked very hard and deserved his goal.
"We brought Nemeth on in the second-half and in the end he was probably the difference for us with some great hold up play and he also went close with a few headers.
"He got some reward though when he set up the winning goal for Ryan which means we can now look forward to the final on Sunday night."
If the Reds are to return home with the Dallas Cup they will have to see off Tigres for the second time in the competition, following the 5-1 success in the group stage.
It is a game many supporters will assume Liverpool will win after such a high margin of victory last time out, but Ablett is keen for his young players to avoid any form of complacency.
"Everyone knows we beat Tigres 5-1 in the group, but the key is not to under-estimate them," he said.
"That scoreline flattered us and in truth, they were probably the better side for long periods in that match.
"But we know that if we apply ourselves in the right manner and play to the level that we know we are capable of, we have got a great chance of winning the game and coming home with the cup."
