Not the best result for Arsenal as they went down 4-3 against Eintracht Frankfurt on the second match day of the Lion City Cup in Singapore.
The Gunners had narrowly defeated hosts NFA in the opening game 2-1 but against the Germans found themselves a goal down within seconds of the start after carelessly losing possession in their own half. As someone said to me earlier, watching the Under 15s was like watching the first team!
Things got worse for the Arsenal kids when they went 2-0 on 25 minutes but to their credit they hauled themselves back in the game when Joseph Willock pulled one back from the spot.
Right on half time Arsenal conceded a third when they fell asleep at a corner allowing Nils Herdt to net his second of the night at the near post.
Ukasyah Wallace, a Felliani look alike at the back, had endured a torrid start to the game but it was he who pulled a goal back (pictured), poking home from close range and as the game wore on he regained confidence and put in a good shift.
The impressive Kaylen Hinds made it 3-3 and Arsenal were hoping they had turned a corner but it wasn't to be when a delightful chip from sub Adrian Matuschewski gave the Germans the win.
There was a penalty shoot out at the end of the game to be used instead of goal difference or head to head but it was England against Germany, you don't need me to tell me the result of that!
After the game Eintracht coach Abdessamad El Messaoudi said, “It was a great winning goal. One of a kind - something we do not see every day.” I would respectfully disagree. I saw an Eintracht sub do exactly the same thing at half time...it may even have been the same player.
Arsenal coach Kwamae Ampadu was satisfied with how his team had clawed their way back in the game while Liam Brady praised the response of the players at the end describing Willock,who had scored the pen yet missed from 12 yards in the shoot out as in tears.
At the end of the day at this age it isn't so much about results as about experience. Playing in the Singapore heat cannot be easy for kids used to the vagaries of English weather but the way they responded to the early set back will be one positive for the coaches when they pick the bones of this game.
Source : http://jakartacasual.blogspot.com