4-0: Under-19s miss out on Youth League Final Four spot
The madridistas lost on their visit to AZ Alkmaar in the competition quarter-finals.
The Under-19s will not be in the UEFA Youth League Final Four after they lost their quarter-final clash on the road at AZ Alkmaar 4-0. Arbeloa's boys, who hadn't lost a single game this season, fell short on the cusp of a place at the title-decider in Nyon. The game got underway with the intensity high from both teams. Our academy side were on the front foot going forward, crossing into the box time and again. The hosts did make astute use of their pace on the break though and with 25 minutes gone, they went 1-0 up through a Beukers header, before Poku made it 2-0 just four minutes later.
Pol enjoyed our best chance on the stroke of half-time with a shot under pressure which the defender managed to deflect just wide of the target. The madridistas came out in search of a turnaround after the break, as Gonzalo forced the hosts' goalkeeper into a fine stop with his effort from the edge of the box. Our team were pressing forward at will and Jacobo came close, but his header was again expertly kept out by Owusu-Oduro 63’. Shortly afterwards, Yeray tried his luck when he pounced on a rebound but despite the glut of chances, Meerdink and Beukers put the tie to bed with another couple of goals towards the end of the game.
LINE-UPS
4-AZ Alkmaar: Owusu-Oduro, Mastoras, Stam, Schouten, Beukers, Kwakman Kalisvaart, 93', De Jong, Smit, Addai Kerssens, 72’, Meerdink and Poku Ro-Zangelo Daal, 80’.
0-Under-19s: Diego Piñeiro, Gonzalo, Manuel Ángel, Nico Paz Álvaro Ginés, 82’, Jacobo, Pol Mesonero, 72’, Manu Serrano, Palacios, Youssef, Tobias and Chema Yeray, 60’.
Goals
1-0 min. 25: Beukers.
2-0 min. 29: Poku.
3-0 min. 78: Meerdink.
4-0 min. 85: Beukers.