Post-Match Report

U18s report: Watford 2-4 Arsenal

Amario Cozier-Duberry celebrates scoring for Arsenal U18 against Watford

Watford U18 -

Vicarage Road
FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
  Watford U18
   crest
Watford U18
2 - 4
  Arsenal U18
   crest
Arsenal U18

 

WHAT HAPPENED

We booked our place in the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup after beating Watford 4-2 in a dramatic comeback at Vicarage Road on Monday night.

We fell behind after just two minutes when the hosts got in behind our backline and Michael Adu-Poku tapped home from close range. 

We responded well to the setback with Jimi Gower firing just over and Omari Benjamin had an effort deflected just wide of the post.  

However, we gave ourselves a mountain to climb when we failed to deal with another cross in our area and Tobi Adeyemo finished from inside the six-yard box. 

Cozier-Duberry, Seb Ferdinand, and Bradley Ibrahim all went close to pulling one back in the first half, but Gabriel Ortelli was equal to their efforts in the Watford net.

We came out rejuvenated after the break and our fightback began just before the hour mark from the penalty spot when substitute Osman Kamara was brought down and Cozier-Duberry sent Ortrelli the wrong way. 

Five minutes later, we were level, after Kamara reacted quickest to Ibrahim’s long-range effort and cooly slotted home to net his third goal in as many games.  

From that moment on, there only seemed to be one winner and we completed the turnaround instantly when Michal Rosiak smashed home from five yards out after a goalmouth scramble. 

Cozier-Duberry sealed proceedings from the spot once again, his second penalty of the night, was dispatched with conviction, to round off a memorable evening at Vicarage Road. 

WHAT IT MEANS

We are through to the quarter finals of the FA Youth Cup where we will host either Cambridge United or Sheffield Wednesday. 

The game will take place at Emirates Stadium - Details of when our tie will take placed will be announced in due course.

WHAT’S NEXT 

We're back in action on Saturday, February 11, when we head down the M23 to the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the under-18s Premier League.  

Kick-off is at 11.30am (UK) 

TEAM NEWS 

Arsenal: Cooper (GK), Rosiak, Walters, Quamina, Sousa, Lewis-Skelly, Ibrahim, Gower (Nwaneri, 58), Cozier-Duberry (Kacurri, 86), Ferdinand (Kamara, 45), Benjamin 

Subs not used: Okonkwo, Nichols, Roberts, Oulad M’Hand