12.10.2022U19

Bayer 04 lose 3-1 to Porto in Youth League

Bayer 04 just missed out on a first point in Group Be in the UEFA Youth League: The team under head coach Sven Hübscher went behind on 15 minutes in the home game against FC Porto in front of 500 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The Werkself U19s fought back to earn a deserved equaliser scored by Joshua Eze on 68 minutes. The visitors from Portugal retook the lead ten minutes from full-time and added another in added time to round off a 3-1 win.

Head coach Sven Hübscher made two changes to his starting line-up compared with the 4-0 away win at Rot-Weiß Oberhausen: Joshua Eze came in for Arjanit Fazlija in midfield and 15-year-old Ken Izekor played up front in place of Raoul Petak.

early goal conceded via inside of the post

In an evenly balanced start to the game, it was Porto's Umaro Candé who had the first shot on goal on eight minutes with the reply four minutes later from Izekor. A corner saw a header from the Belgian Madi Monamy go inches wide of the target (13'). The first goal of the game was scored by the opposition: Again it was a shot from Candé – and he opened the scoring for the youth team of the Portuguese champions via the inside of the right-hand post (16').

Neither side threatened after that until Leverkusen's Leon Köhl tried a long-range effort just before half-time and – just like Monamy – he narrowly missed finding the back of the Porto net (43'). The Hübscher team went into half-time from time 1-0 down.

Frimpong in the stands - eze levels

The 500 spectators at the UHS, including the Bayer 04 youth teams from the U12s to the U15s plus Jeremie Frimpong, currently suspended for tonight's Champions League match, again witnessed a balanced opening to the second 45 minutes. Bayer 04 captain Noah Pesch had the first clear-cut chance but his shot was blocked (53'). Rui Monteiro tried his luck for Porto ten minutes later.

Then it was the Black and Red youngsters who were on the front foot – and they were rewarded on 68 minutes with the leveller at 1-1: Pesch crossed from the right into the box where the ball finally ended up at the feet of Eze. The 19-year-old shot from ten yards out and his effort ended up in the back of the net with the help of the inside of the left-hand post.

It looked like the game at the UHS was heading for a draw but the Portuguese side then scored out of the blue to retake the lead: Porto centre-forward Jorge Meireles ran onto a long ball up front, rounded the Bayer 04 keeper Roy Steur to restore the advantage (80'). Hübscher and Co. gave their all and brought on two new strikers in Francis Onyeka from the U17s plus Can Moustfa. The changes in attack were ineffective but Porto substitute Ussumane Djaló made it 3-1 (90+2').

from the Youth League to the DFB CUP

The Leverkusen U19s are back in action on Saturday 15 October in the Round of 16 of the DFB Youth Cup. The Hübscher team face holders VfB Stuttgart at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Bayer 04 will broadcast the game live on the club's YouTube channel.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Steur - Monamay, Okafor (Bance 87'), Lang - Pesch, Köhl (Aourir 67'), Eze, Aksoy - Sertdemir - Widlarz (Onyeka 83'), Izekor (Moustfa 87')

Porto: G. Ribeiro - Rodrigues (Regal 78'), A. Ribeiro, Vinhas, Brás, Silva (Ferreira 62') - Sousa, Oliveira (Djaló 62’) - Monteiro (Leite 85’), Meireles, Candé (Diaz Marulanda 85’)

Goals: 0-1 Candé (16’), 1-1 Eze (68’), 1-2 Meireles (80’), 1-3 Djaló (90 +2’)

Booked: Monamay, Pesch, Sertdemir

Referee: Snir Levy (Israel)

Attendance: 500 at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium

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