Post-Match Report

Youth League: Anderlecht 4-3 Arsenal

Dan Crowley scores against Anderlecht

Anderlecht U19 -

Van Roystadion
UEFA Youth League
UEFA Youth League
  Anderlecht U19
      
              Aaron Leya Iseka (2 pen
               23)
               Dan Crowley (11
               19
               85 pen)
               0 (36)
               Andy Kawaya (39)
          
   crest
Anderlecht U19
Aaron Leya Iseka (2 pen 23) Dan Crowley (11 19 85 pen) 0 (36) Andy Kawaya (39)
4 3
  Arsenal U19
   crest
Arsenal U19

By Josh James at the Florent Beeckman Stadion

SUMMARY

Arsenal Under-19s lost a seven-goal thriller to Anderlecht in Brussels, and are now joined at the top of Uefa Youth League Group D by the Belgians.

After falling behind to a first-minute penalty, Dan Crowley scored twice to give Arsenal the lead inside 20 minutes.

But three more goals from the hosts before the interval put Anderlecht in control.

Crowley completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot late on, but Anderlecht held on to spark jubilant celebrations.

The Gunners will host Anderlecht in the next group game in two weeks' time.

SETTING THE SCENE

Frans de Kat and Steve Gatting made three changes to the team that beat Galatasaray 5-1 three weeks ago.

Young goalkeeper Ryan Huddart was drafted into the first-team squad, so Bradley House started between the posts.

Kaylen Hinds - scorer of three goals in the opening two group games - missed out with a back injury, to be replaced by Stephy Mavididi.

Elliot Wright returned to the centre of defence after George Dobson was ruled out with an ankle injury.

FIRST HALF

The players' pre-match warm up took place amid a torrential downpour, which made for a sodden playing surface.

Arsenal got off to the worst possible start when Stefan O'Connor tripped Bilal Jellal in the area with less than a minute on the clock, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Aaron Leya Iseka stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards.

The Gunners regrouped and were level on 11 minutes. Crowley received the ball from Gedion Zelalem inside the area, twisted past his man in the box and kept his composure to finish well.

Eight minutes later Crowley was on target again. The ball fell to him 10 yards from goal and he delicately dinked the ball into the far corner.

Arsenal looked to have weathered the early storm and were knocking the ball around confidently but the hosts were back on terms midway through the half. The Gunners defence was undone by a long ball over the top and Leya Iseka raced through to finish when one-on-one.

Two goals in three minutes then left Arsenal shellshocked. Firstly, on 36 minutes, Frank Mikel squeezed a low shot inside the far post, then Andy Kawaya finished a lovely move by the Belgians with a well-struck first-time shot from 20 yards out.

SECOND HALF

The rain finally abated and the visitors set about imposing themselves on their hosts, and enjoyed the majority of possession. Chances duly arrived.

Chiori Johnson's low cross found Crowley four yards out, but the ball wouldn't stick and the danger was snuffed out. Ainsley Maitland-Niles then tried his luck from distance before Crowley flashed a low cross in front of goal, but also in front of the forwards.

On 73 minutes captain Alex Iwobi crashed a shot against the bar, while at the other end 16-year-old keeper House was dealing well with anything aimed at him.

With five minutes left, Crowley completed his hat-trick to give Arsenal hope. Herve Matthys felled the classy number 10 in the area, and Crowley stepped up to tuck the ball into the bottom right hand corner from the spot.

The Gunners searched for the equaliser, but it was Anderlecht who came closest to scoring again when Kawaya hit the post in injury time.

 

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