15 March 2022
Juventus Under 19 defeated Liverpool 2-0 to write a piece of club history by reaching the UEFA Youth League Final Four for the first time.
THE MATCH
Juve and Liverpool faced off at the Ale&Ricky pitch knowing what was at stake: a place in the Final Four to be held in Nyon.
The young Bianconeri's approach was perfect, battling for every ball and keeping the English team under constant pressure.
However, there were no goals to show in the first half even though Juventus created a good number of chances.
It was a different story half way into the second half. The opening goal was inspired and finished by two players that had recently been promoted to the first team. With a back heel, Matias Soulé teed up Fabio Miretti, who drove his shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Two minutes later, Ange Chibozo swept home after a powerful run from midfield by Miretti. Liverpool never recovered from the incredible one-two, allowing the Juve youngsters to celebrate come the final whistle.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
ANDREA BONATTI: “We really wanted to qualify for Nyon, and we knew we had the potential to do so. Today, our performance was excellent, we were superior all over the pitch, and we deserved to win. It was a special match, and we achieved a special result to reward the club with a prestigious qualification. I know I am a demanding coach, but I can see the players are responding well.”
ANGE CHIBOZO: “It is a great satisfaction. It’s a lesson for us to understand that we can earn our future. Our coach knows how to read the match and find the keys to unlock it. We need to listen to him. At the interval he asked us to add some more bite to our game and that we were playing well.”
FABIO MIRETTI: “We know we have achieved something big today, and we are proud of what we’ve done. Now we don’t want to stop. We controlled almost the whole match today, then after the two quick goals, it was all downhill. We still need to work on some details, because that is what makes the difference at this level.”
UEFA Youth League – Quarter Finals
“Ale & Ricky" Pitch - Vinovo (TO)
Juventus 2-0 Liverpool
Scorers: 66’ Miretti (J), 68’ Chibozo (J)
Juventus: Senko, Savona, Turicchia, Nzouango (81’ Fiumanò), Bonetti, Iling, Muharemovic, Mulazzi, Chibozo (86’ Cerri), Miretti (90+1’ Rouhi), Soulè (81’ Hasa).
Subs not used: Daffara, Turco, Mbangula.
Coach: Bonatti.
Liverpool: Mrozek (25’ Hewitson), Bradley, Beck (75’ Balagizi), Quansah, Koumetio, Corness, Mabaya, Morton, Cannonier (75’ Jonas), Norris, Woltman.
Subs not used: Scanlon, Clark, Mcconnell, Pilling.
Coach: Bridge-Wilkinson.
Referee: Rohit Saggi (NOR).
Assistants: Geir Oskar Isaksen (NOR), Morten Jensen (NOR).
Fourth Official: Andrea Colombo (ITA)
Bookings: 42’ Norris (L), 89’ Senko (J)
