The Under-19s came away empty-handed from Lille on matchday two of the first stage of the Youth League. Yáñez’s second-half goal was not enough to counter the French side’s two strikes in the first half. The match was also marred by the refereeing of the Belarusian Kourgheli, who should have sent off Imbondo for an elbow on Aimar that meant he had to leave the pitch in the 19th minute and who failed to award a penalty for a handball by Diaone after a shot by Regueira (77′).
Both teams had decent chances right from the start of the clash. The first real opportunity fell to the home side when Yáñez’s shot was blocked by Merzouk (4′). Shortly after, the home side hit back when Ayodele was denied by Alvaro when one-on-one with the keeper. In the 19th minute, Aimar sustained an injury after being elbowed by Imbondo, but the Belarusian referee Kourgheli only issued a yellow card. Lille took the lead in the 40th minute through Diaoune. Three minutes later, Ayodele made it 2-0.
Under-19s fought to level the scores
After the restart, Lille almost extended their lead with a shot against the post from Lachaab (46′). From then on, the game changed dramatically and Madrid pulled one back just before the hour mark. Yáñez made it 2-1 with a precise left-footed shot from the edge of the area.
The Madridista goal galvanised Arbeloa‘s men, who pushed forward in an attempt to equalise. In the 77th minute, the referee failed to spot a clear handball by Diaoune inside the area in his attempt to block a shot by creek. The Madrid academy side almost equalised on a couple of occasions. First Roi crashed a close-range effort against the post and, two minutes later, a fine save from Merzouk denied Perea.
MATCH INFO:
2-Lille: Merzouk, Lucea, Cossier (Traore, 62′), Bonnechere, Mbamba-Muanda, Faiz (Fokam, 74′), Imbodo, Baret (Apkakou, 62′), Diaoune, Lachaab (Goffi, 62′), Ayodele (Akale, 67′).
1-Under-19s: Álvaro, Fortea (Roi, 19′), Valdepeñas, Aguado, Mesa (Liberto, 75′), Yáñez, Regueira, Pol Durán, Roberto Martín, Aimar (Hugo de Llanos, 19′), Barroso (Perea, 46′).
Goals
1-0 (min. 40): Diaoune.
2-0 (min. 43): Ayodele
2-1 (min. 57): Yáñez.
