Young Terriers gain a point in their third Premier League Cup group game
- Town’s EDT draw with Liverpool
- Adama Diakhaby scores for the Young Terriers
- Further Premier League Cup games to follow
Huddersfield Town’s Elite Development Team produced a solid performance to draw 1-1 against group leaders Liverpool in the Premier League Cup at the John Smith’s Stadium on Monday night.
Leigh Bromby’s side fell behind following an expertly dispatched free-kick by Herbie Kane but responded well and equalised through an excellent long-range strike by Adama Diakhaby ten minutes later.
Liverpool began in the ascendancy and took the lead inside the opening 12 minutes of the match. Left-back Luke Daley brought down Luis Longstaff on the edge of the penalty area and Kane curled the resulting free kick past Joel Coleman into the top right corner of the net to give the visitors an early advantage.
Town responded well and drew level through an excellent finish by Diakhaby. The 23-year-old winger dispossessed the Reds’ goal scorer Kane in the final third and drove forward purposefully before assessing his options and opting to shoot from range, releasing a powerful effort which arrowed into the bottom right corner.
Bromby’s side began to control proceeding following their equaliser and created several chances to take the lead. Ilounga Pata and Diakhaby proved threatening on the right, combining effectively to find Kian Harratt in a pocket of space inside the area. Harratt flashed a menacing cross into a dangerous area, but Isaac Mbenza was unable to guide his shot on target.
Josh Koroma, who made his 100th career appearance against Bristol City on Saturday, thought he had put Town ahead moments before half-time when he was slipped in by Matty Daly, but the forward was adjudged to be offside.
Town manufactured a glorious opportunity to claim the advantage ten minutes after the restart when Coleman located Koroma with a perfectly flighted ball over the top of the Liverpool defence. Koroma drove towards the byline and whipped a drilled cross across the face of goal, but Harratt was unable to apply the decisive touch on the stretch at the back post.
Town almost snatched a late winner when Harratt connected with Reece Brown’s near post corner in stoppage time, but the striker’s effort went inches wide of the post.
The result marks Town’s third draw in as many games in the competition and Bromby remains positive ahead of Town’s next fixtures.
Speaking after the game he said: “As a performance it’s really positive and we should have loads of confidence and no fear when we play all the teams again and that will be the message from all of coaches.”
Huddersfield Town EDT side (4-2-3-1)
Joel Coleman (c); Luke Daley, Ben Jackson, Loick Ayina, Ilounga Pata; Reece Brown, Matty Daly; Josh Koroma (Will McCamley, 62’), Isaac Mbenza (Josh Austerfield, 74’), Adama Diakhaby (Olly Dyson, 56’); Kian Harratt
Unused subs
Jacob Chapman; Micah Obiero
Scorers
Adama Diakhaby (22’)
