Wolves under-23s fell to a heartbreaking late defeat to Liverpool with Chem Campbell’s penalty unable to earn James Collins’ side a share of the points at St George’s Park.
During a first-half which lacked much goalmouth action, Liverpool had the best of the early chances with Leighton Clarkson failing to put an enticing Neco Williams cross in at the far post, before Curtis Jones hit the upright.
Andreas Sondergaard performed miracles in the Wolves goal, with several world class saves, firstly punishing away a Harvey Elliott free-kick from the edge of the area, and then a spectacular stop to palm Jones’ curling shot which was destined for the top corner around the post.
However, Liverpool took the lead when Joseph Hardy latched onto a Tony Gallacher pass, but it didn’t take long for the hosts to equalise after Renat Dadashov went down in the penalty area under a challenge.
Referee Tom Reeves pointed to the spot and 17-year-old Campbell stepped up and confidently dispatched the spotkick into the bottom right corner of the net.
Wolves came inches away from taking the lead with just under five minutes of regular time remaining when Dadashov latched onto the end of a delightfully weighted through pass by Luke Cundle, however, after a heavy first touch which took the forward wide, the Azerbaijani did well to smash the upright with his effort.
But in the dying moments of the game, Wolves suffered another sucker punch as Liverpool took the spoils through Jake Cain, with the midfielder finding space on the edge of the Wolves box before lashing a shot past Sondergaard.
COMING UP
The under-23s make a swift return to Premier League Cup action this Friday night as they travel to Leeds United, hoping to maintain their unbeaten record in this season’s group stage.
NEXT FIVE
21/02 Leeds United (A) PLC
25/02 Derby County (H) PLC
02/03 Tottenham Hotspur (A)
10/03 Nuneaton Borough (A) BSC
16/03 Derby County (H)
TEAMS
Wolves: Sondergaard, Nya, Otasowie, Marques, Mayounga (Bueno 63), Richards, Taylor, Loiodice (Cundle 83), Perry, Campbell (Dongda He 73), Dadashov.
Unused subs: Young, Lonwijk.
Liverpool: Jaros, Williams, Hoever, Van Den Berg, Gallacher, Chirivella (Dixon-Bonner 83), Cain, Clarkson, Elliott, Jones, Hardy (Millar 68).
Unused subs: Winterbottom, Boyes, Bearne.
