Losers Medals For Nigerian Quartet As Man City Lose To Liverpool In FAYC Final With Guardiola Watching

Published: April 25, 2019

Four players of Nigerian descent were named in Manchester City's match day squad as they were beaten 5-3 on penalties by Liverpool in the final of the prestigious FA Youth Cup on Thursday night.

While Felix Nmecha wearing the number 10 jersey went the distance, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Nathanael Ogbeta came off the bench in the 60th and 90th minute respectively and goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was a non-playing substitute.

The Citizens first-team manager Pep Guardiola was spotted in the stands watching the showpiece at the Academy Stadium in Manchester.

Manchester City dominated the opening forty-five minutes and deservedly took the lead just before half-time through Touaizi whose shot gave the goalkeeper no chance.

Nmecha was culpable for the goal which gave Liverpool the equaliser after the attacking midfielder cheaply lost possession in his own half.

With time ticking away, Bobby Duncan's speculative shot from 25 yards out was bundled by the City goalkeeper into his own net which sent the game into extra time.

There was nothing of any note in extra time, so the game had to be decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Nmecha kept his nerve in the shootout by converting City's first kick and Dele-Bashiru also converted from 12 yards, but Liverpool were crowned winners after scoring all their spot kicks.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : mancity.com