Lauri Dalla Valle celebrates scoring Liverpool's opening goal against Birmingham.
Friday, 24 April, 2009
Liverpool to meet Arsenal in Youth Cup Final.
Liverpool 3-1 Birmingham City Dalla Valle 17, 58, Kacaniklic 53 (6-1 on agg) Sammons 44 The FA Youth Cup, sponsored by E.ONSemi-Final Second Leg7pm, Friday 24 April 2009Anfield, Liverpool FCLauri Dalla Valle fired Liverpool to The Final of The FA Youth Cup for the third time in four seasons after his brace was enough to down plucky Birmingham.After watching a good luck message from Liverpool first team manager Rafael Benitez on a DVD in the dressing room before the game, Dalla Valle scored in 17th and 58th minutes in the second leg of the Semi-Final to help set up the 6-1 aggregate win.Alexander Kacaniklic went one-on-one with Birmingham goalkeeper Dean Lyness to score Liverpool's other goal in the 53rd minute.Liverpool will now meet Arsenal in the two-legged Final after the London side beat Manchester City 4-1 on Wednesday for a 6-2 aggregate victory.Birmingham captain Ashley Sammons levelled to make it 1-1 in the 44th minute, curling a 30-yard shot past Liverpool goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, after several of his free-kick attempts at goal failed.Dalla Valle, a 17-year-old Finnish striker, first side-footed the home side ahead after a sustained period of Liverpool pressure which pinned Birmingham into their own half, keeping goalkeeper Dean Lyness and his defence busy. His second was a solo effort.Dalla Valle also scored two goals in the Semi-Final at Birmingham eight days ago, with David Amoo adding the other. The two nearly set up another Liverpool goal just before the hour mark, with Dalla Valle heading the ball onto the roof of the net after taking an Amoo cross.Liverpool's only disappointment came when midfielder Adam Pepper limped off the pitch after pulling up with a groin injury in the 56th minute. He was replaced by Jack Robinson, an England U16 international.After winning their first FA Youth Cup in 1996 with Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher on the team, Liverpool also picked up the trophy in 2006 and 2007 – all under youth team coach Hugh McAuley.
Liverpool
3-1
Birmingham City
Dalla Valle 17, 58, Kacaniklic 53
(6-1 on agg)
Sammons 44
The FA Youth Cup, sponsored by E.ONSemi-Final Second Leg7pm, Friday 24 April 2009Anfield, Liverpool FCLauri Dalla Valle fired Liverpool to The Final of The FA Youth Cup for the third time in four seasons after his brace was enough to down plucky Birmingham.After watching a good luck message from Liverpool first team manager Rafael Benitez on a DVD in the dressing room before the game, Dalla Valle scored in 17th and 58th minutes in the second leg of the Semi-Final to help set up the 6-1 aggregate win.Alexander Kacaniklic went one-on-one with Birmingham goalkeeper Dean Lyness to score Liverpool's other goal in the 53rd minute.Liverpool will now meet Arsenal in the two-legged Final after the London side beat Manchester City 4-1 on Wednesday for a 6-2 aggregate victory.Birmingham captain Ashley Sammons levelled to make it 1-1 in the 44th minute, curling a 30-yard shot past Liverpool goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, after several of his free-kick attempts at goal failed.Dalla Valle, a 17-year-old Finnish striker, first side-footed the home side ahead after a sustained period of Liverpool pressure which pinned Birmingham into their own half, keeping goalkeeper Dean Lyness and his defence busy. His second was a solo effort.Dalla Valle also scored two goals in the Semi-Final at Birmingham eight days ago, with David Amoo adding the other. The two nearly set up another Liverpool goal just before the hour mark, with Dalla Valle heading the ball onto the roof of the net after taking an Amoo cross.Liverpool's only disappointment came when midfielder Adam Pepper limped off the pitch after pulling up with a groin injury in the 56th minute. He was replaced by Jack Robinson, an England U16 international.After winning their first FA Youth Cup in 1996 with Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher on the team, Liverpool also picked up the trophy in 2006 and 2007 – all under youth team coach Hugh McAuley.
