Oxford United's under 18s were beaten 3-2 at Portsmouth this morning in the EFL Youth Alliance
United scored first through an own goal, before a frantic second half saw the U's concede three times. Jack Fox levelled the game in the 50th minute, before Enrique Tiamuna put United back ahead. Mitch Aston and Sam Folarin then scored in the 55th and the 76th to earn Pompey the 3-2 win.
The game was moved to a 3G pitch due to the bitterly cold conditions, and the ball zipped around on the frosty artificial surface.
As both teams attempted to dominate the ball, neither were able to create any clear cut chances until Kasway Burton won a free kick in the 15th minute which Aidan Elliott-Wheeler whipped just over Aaron Lacey’s head at the back stick.
Monty Marriott was then called into action for the first time five minutes later, tipping Pompey skipper Adam Payce’s looping header over the bar.
There were little chances for the rest of the half, but United found themselves ahead through an own goal in the 40th minute. Elliott-Wheeler did superbly to drive to the byline, dummying past Harvey Laidlaw and drilling the ball across goal, where Koby Mottoh turned it into his own net at the back post and the Yellows were ahead at the break.
United had a chance quickly in the second half to double their lead, when Burton pulled the ball back to Zaide Took-Oxley, who mistimed his shot and fired straight at Bastian Smith.
The game came to life, with three goals in five minutes. Pompey went down the other end and found their leveller, Jack Fox popping up unmarked at the back from a corner and volleying home for 1-1 in the 50th minute.
Three minutes later, Josh Johnson broke from a Portsmouth corner and slipped in Enrique Tiamuna, who rounded the keeper and put United ahead instantly.
But they couldn’t hold on and Pompey did what Oxford had just done and reacted rapidly, Mitch Aston tucking the ball over the line to make it 2-2.
Erion Zabeli made an excellent headed clearance off the goal line as Jamie Howell lifted the ball over Marriott, and with twenty minutes to play Jacob Fowler replaced goal scorer Tiamuna.
After going ahead twice, United were frustrated again in the 76th minute, when Sam Folarin stretched out a leg and lifted the ball over Marriott from a floated free kick to make it 3-2 to the home side.
United brought on Josh Iheanacho, Calum Barrett-Doyle and Harrison Mole to try and pull themselves back into the game, but ultimately couldn’t find the equaliser.
To make matters worse, Rashane Maxwell was given his marching orders with two minutes to play for a second yellow card and UNited went home with a loss.
LINEUP: Marriott, Franklin, Lacey (Mole, 86’), Zabeli, Maxwell, Johnson (Iheanacho, 83’), Took-Oxley, Brenan (Barrett-Doyle, 83’), Elliott-Wheeler, Tiamuna (Fowler, 69’), Burton
