Sunderland under-18s fell to a late defeat at the Academy in Kirkby on Friday night against Liverpool, but it was a night of positives for Mark Atkinson’s side.
Liverpool started on top and created the first chance inside a minute as Adam Lewis beat Jordan Hickey to the ball before his cross found Edvard Tagseth, however, he could only fire his effort wide of goal.
Sunderland’s first chance of the game arrived on seven minutes as Benji Kimpioka picked up a loose ball before he overhit his cross to the back post where Lee Connelly was lurking to surely score.
The Black Cats should have been ahead on 15 minutes after fantastic play from Connelly who skipped his way beyond the Liverpool defence before crossing for Kimpioka, however, from three-yards out he fired his effort over the crossbar from point-blank range.
In a frantic start it was the home side who were inches away from going ahead as Lewis got free on the right before his cross found Glen McAuley unmarked, but he fired his powerful effort wide when it looked like Michael Woud was beaten.
As Steven Gerrard’s side started to up the tempo they were inches away from taking the lead on 23 minutes when once again Lewis was left free before his low cross picked out Paul Glatzel but he slid his effort wide of the target at the back post.
However, it was Sunderland who thought they had gone ahead on 27 minutes as Robbie Dunne met a Connelly cross before his header cracked off the underside of the crossbar, beating Vitezslav Jaros all ends up.
Jaros came to Liverpool’s rescue two minutes later as he made a fantastic low save to keep out a powerful long-range Bali Mumba strike, holding the ball in the process.
On the stroke of half time, Liverpool created another good opening as Elijah-Dixon-Bonner played in Tagseth but he was well tackled by Tom Howard before he could get a shot away on goal.
Liverpool took the lead three minutes into the second half as Lewis once again got free out wide before his cross found McAuley and he fired into the net through the body of Woud in the Sunderland goal.
Sunderland equalised, however, on 55 minutes as Jack Connolly latched on to a cross and managed to flick his header into the net out of the reach of home keeper Jaros.
Connolly then created another opening for the Black Cats on 63 minutes when he cut inside off the left wing before firing his powerful strike down the throat of Jaros.
Liverpool were then denied a penalty as Rafeal Camacho went down in the area under a challenge from Williams Kokolo but referee Matthew Scholes waved away the protests.
Lewis, who was putting in a superb performance for the home side, thought he had restored their lead as Curtis Jones crossed for him at the back post, but he fired his effort over the crossbar.
It was then the turn of Woud to keep Sunderland level as he made a superb low save to keep out Camacho after he was played through on goal by Liam Miller.
Woud then made another great save on 75 minutes as he got down low to keep out a powerful strike from Jones as he turned the visitors defence.
Lee Connelly had a superb chance to score his second of the game on 83 minutes as Jacob Young played a superb pass over the defence before he fired his effort over the crossbar.
Gerrard then thought his side has stolen all three points two minutes later as Lewis cross found Jones at the back post before he cut the ball back for Camacho only for him to lash his shot over the bar from point-blank range.
Liverpool then had another good late chance as Lewis was picked out by Yassar Larouci but he fired wide of the target.
Liverpool were then to win it late on as Larouci cut inside before his shot rattled the post the ball however coming back out to Jones and he tapped it into the net to break the Black Cats hearts in the last minute of the game.
However, in stoppage time Jaros came to his sides rescue as he made a superb reaction save to keep out a Connelly shot after he got on the end of a long free-kick from Howard.