Last-gasp winner for U19s against Bielefeld

There was unbridled joy at the final whistle. Outfield players, substitutes, goalkeepers all threw themselves on Sam Schreck. The U19 striker scored in the last move of the game to secure a deserved 1-0 win against Armenia Bielefeld.

The Werkself youngsters faced solid resistance from Bielefeld throughout in the first match of the season at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The visitors lined up in a 5-4-1 formation against the Bayer 04 youth team.

MORE ADVENTUROUS IN SECOND HALF

An initial lack of tempo and movement meant Leverkusen had problems in creating chances. The best came within 60 seconds on 17 minutes when the Bielefeld keeper first kept out a shot from the right by Güven Yalcin.

He then saved a header from the ensuing corner and the final follow-up shot went over the bar. For their part, Bielefeld looked to play on the break and they missed their best chance on the half-hour mark.

STRONG WORDS AT THE BREAK

The Leverkusen coaches Markus Von Arlen and Iraklis Metaxas did not mince their words at half-time. "We made it very clear to the lads what was going wrong," said Metaxas in revealing an insight into the discussions in the dressing room.

That appeared to pay off. More mobile in the gaps and quick thinking on and off the ball saw the Bayer 04 youngsters create chance after chance from 50 minutes. Most of them were kept out by the Armenian shot-stopper who made a number of great reflex saves from close range to frustrate Attakan Akkaynak (56'), Yalcin (57') plus Schreck and Herdi Bukusu (58').

REWARD IN THE END

The U19s refused to give up. The hosts retained their belief right to the end and they earned their just rewards. After a one-two, Schreck broke into the box from the right to fire the winner into the bottom right corner. He was then lost in a ruck of players celebrating his strike.

The victory for the U19 team in their second league match, above all the way they played in the second half, must bring the youngsters confidence for the forthcoming challenges.

DUISBURG ON SUNDAY

Matchday three at the end of this busy week in the U19 Bundesliga West brings another home fixture. MSV Duisburg visit the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Sunday.

The game kicks off at 11.00 CET and there is no entrance fee.

MATCH STATS:

Bayer 04 U19: Kucz - Stappmann, Boller, Schreck, Yalcin, Schaus (Tokac 46’), Shala, Samoura, Bukusu (Grym 59’), Fragapane (Arik 84’), Akkaynak.

Arminia Bielefeld U19: Westphal - Fraedrich (Bornemann 74’), Dieckmann, Monteiro-Mendes, Özkan, Flock (Schmidt 46’, H. Yildiz 70’), Siya (Curic 68’), Müller, Wanner, Massimo, D. Yildiz.

Goals: 1-0 Schreck (90+2’).

Booked: Stappman - Wanner.

Referee: Habibi (Duisburg).
Attendance: 177.