We fell to our fourth defeat of the UEFA Youth League as we lost 5-1 to Slavia Prague.
An own goal from Ceadach O’Neill as well as efforts from Bartosz Szywala and Jakub Kolisek saw our hosts take a 3-0 lead before half-time.
Ceadach O’Neill found the net for us in the second half before Mubarak Suleiman and Matej Kotrba rounded off the scoring for the hosts in added time.
what happened
Our hosts had picked up four points from three matches and immediately asserted their dominance on the game, opening the scoring after 10 minutes.
From the first corner of the contest, Simon Sloncik found himself unmarked at the back post and his header was deflected into his own net by Ceadach O’Neill.
We looked to get back into the contest and almost levelled as Brando Bailey-Joseph slipped in Osman Kamara but his effort was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle from Slonick.
Demiane Agustien was next to have a go for us as he found himself in space on the edge of the box, but couldn’t keep his shot down.
We were then undone by a long throw as the hosts doubled their lead. Elias Pitak’s long hurl into the box fell kindly for Bartosz Szywala, who smashed the ball into the top corner
Midfielder Mubarak Suleiman was causing problems all half, firing his effort narrowly wide on 30 minutes. As we pushed forward to try and reduce the deficit, we were hit on the counter as Slavia made it 3-0. Good work in the middle saw Suleiman find Pitak bombing down the right flank, and his low cross found Kolisek in time and space to thump home.
It could have been 4-0 before half-time as Khari Ranson palmed his save into the path of Suleiman, but he couldn’t find the target from inside the box.
We started the second half positively but were almost undone on the counter once again. Agustien’s cross was cleared into the path of Szywala who linked up with captain Marek Naskos, but the forward dragged his shot wide.
We got our reward and found a way back into the contest on the hour mark. Good pressing from Kamara saw goalkeeper David Kalanin play the ball into the path of O’Neill, who’s deflected effort found it’s way into the net.
Slavia could’ve immediately restored their three-goal lead but Ranson produced a stunning save to deny Pitak from close range.
O’Neill almost had another with time ticking down after being found by substitute Maalik Hashi, but his drive was well saved by Kalanin.
But Slavia would have the final say with two goals in added time. First, Suleiman got on the scoresheet, netting on the rebound after his first attempt had been well saved from Ranson, before substitute Kotrba slotted past Ranson to make it 5-1.
What It Means
After four matches in this season’s UEFA Youth League, we are still searching for our first points of the campaign, with Bayern Munich and Club Brugge our remaining two fixtures.
what’s next
Our next outing in the UEFA Youth League comes against Bayern Munich on November 26. Our under-18s are next in action on November 22, against Norwich City.
teams
Slavia Prague: Kalanin, Boledovic, Sloncik, Beran, Naskos (Frolik 57′), Suleiman, Rajnoha (Kocvara 88′), Kolisek (Palivec 57′), Pitak, Pikolon (Kotrba 88′), Szywala (Pawlik 72′)
Subs: Petrenko, Barcot Chalus, Filippov
Arsenal: Ranson, Ogunnaike, Hamill, Lannin-Sweet (Julienne 70′), Clarke, Ibrahim, Agustien (Hashi 79′), Copley, Bailey-Joseph (Marciniak 40′), Kamara, O’Neill
Subs: Talbot, Phillips, Washington, Frohock, Murisa, Tahou, Owusu-Gyasi
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