Reserves beat United on penalties

Liverpool Reserves are through to the quarter finals of the Lancashire Senior Cup after the Reds recorded a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over holders Manchester United at Moss Lane.

Nathan Eccleston celebrated making his senior bow the previous night with a clinical first-half goal, but United substitute Zoran Tosic levelled for the home side midway through the second period courtesy of a well-taken free-kick from distance.
 
With the score line tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the game was decided by the lottery of penalties - and Dean Bouzanis was the hero as the goalkeeper saved from Matthew James and Ritchie De Laet to send Liverpool into the last eight.
 
Less than 24 hours after making his debut for the first-team, Eccleston was handed a starting berth for John McMahon's side, while Stephen Darby and Daniel Ayala, who were named on the bench at the Emirates, also began the game.
 
The Reds had beaten United's second string 1-0 in a league clash at Prenton Park in September, and they quickly set about looking to record another victory.
 
Liverpool began positively and applied heavy pressure to the home side's goal, without ever really testing goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler.
 
However, United should have opened the scoring after nine minutes when Cameron Stewart's cross into the box found its way to the unmarked Joshua King at the back post, but the striker fluffed his lines and sent his effort high over Bouzanis' crossbar.
 
King was presented with another opportunity soon after, though his header from Oliver Norwood's centre was straight into the arms of Bouzanis.
 
But the Liverpool custodian was forced to make a spectacular flying save to repel Corry Evans' full-volley from 20 yards after a home corner had only been half-cleared on 17 minutes.
 
The pendulum began to swing back in the Reds' favour as the ever-dangerous David Amoo burst to the dead ball line after being released down the right. His low cross to the near post was flicked against the woodwork by Red Devils' defender Ritchie De Laet.
 
It was a real let off for United, but they weren't so fortunate on the half-hour mark when the visitors took the lead.
 
Steve Irwin's sheer tenacity and desire saw him reclaim possession on the left and an intelligent one-two with Eccleston released the midfielder into the box.
 
Displaying composure that defied his tender years, Irwin picked out Eccleston on the edge of the box and the No.9 clinically finished into the top corner with aplomb.
 
The assistant on the far side flagged for an infringement, but he was overruled by referee Karl Evans and the goal was allowed to stand - silencing the jeers of the home crowd.
 
United came back at the visitors and Bouzanis thwarted Evans once more with another magnificent save after the midfielder had tried his luck from distance.
 
But Liverpool could have gone into the interval having extended their advantage when Amoo's low ball across the face of goal narrowly evaded his lurking teammates. Alex Kacaniklic's cross back into the box saw Eccleston's header blocked by a United defender prior to Irwin drilling wide.
 
United emerged for the second period with renewed determination and Sam Hewson fired a free-kick narrowly over the bar before Old Trafford fringe players Federico Macheda and Tosic were introduced into the action by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
 
The duo's arrival instantly handed United more creativity in attack and, on 72 minutes, the home side drew level as Tosic curled a free-kick into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
 
United continued to pour forward, with Stewart shooting inches wide of the post, but the Reds' rearguard defended gallantly - expertly marshalled by Daniel Ayala.
 
With the scoreline still deadlocked after 90 minutes, the dreaded penalties were to decide which team would be taking a place in the last eight of the competition.
 
After both teams netted with their first three spot-kicks through Macheda, Irwin, Febian Brandy, Ayala, Tosic and Chris Mavinga, Bouzanis produced a flying stop to repel James' effort.
 
Eccleston kept his nerve to put the Reds ahead, before Bouzanis parried De Laet's kick to send McMahon's heroes through to the next round at the expense of the holders and set up a meeting with Bolton.
 
Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Daniel Ayala - A commanding and composed presence in the heart of the Reds' defence.
 
Manchester United Reserves: Zieler, Brown (Macheda 65), Dudgeon, Evans, Gill, De Laet, Stewart, Hewson (Tosic 58), King, Norwood (James 58), Brandy.
 
Liverpool Reserves: Bouzanis, Darby, Threlfall, Ayala, Mavinga, Irwin, Eccleston, Amoo, Saric (Mendy 81), Palsson (Weijl 65), Kacaniklic. Subs: Hansen, Kohlert, Brouwer.