Under-19s bow out of UEFA Youth League with defeat in Munich

Our Under-19s came to the end of the road in the UEFA Youth League with defeat in Munich on Wednesday.

A header in each half from Flavius Daniliuc and Bright Akwo Arrey-Mbi put Bayern Munich in control and Angelo Stiller's strike from the edge of the box wrapped it up for the hosts on 74 minutes.

The result leaves us third in Group B. Bayern Munich top the group with Crvena zvezda (Red Star) second after beating Olympiacos. We had to better Crvena zvezda's result, but it wasn't to be.

It was cat and mouse for the first 20 minutes and therefore all the more disappointing that the first effort on goal ended in the back of our net. Daniliuc darted across the near post to meet Taylor Booth's corner and his header appeared to take a touch off Luis Binks before creeping home at the far post. J'Neil Bennett and Dilan Markanday were just off target from distance as it stayed 1-0 at the break.

Josh Oluwayemi was soon called into the action in the second half, tipping over from Booth, but he could do little as Bayern took a grip on the game with Arrey-Mbi powering home a free header from Booth's free-kick on 50 minutes. Oluwayemi then saved well from Ryan Johnansson and Booth missed the target in a purple patch for the home side.

Chasing the game, our best spell followed. Binks planted a header just wide from Tashan Oakley-Boothe's cross and Bennett rifled in a shot that Jakob Mayer somehow turned wide. A goal at that stage may well have brought a grandstand finish but instead, Malik Tillman broke down our left and his cut-back was drilled home by Stillman from the edge of the box.

Oluwayemi produced one more fine save to deny Marvin Cuni and that was that.

Key moment

As always in these games, the first goal can be crucial - even more so in the game of chess developing in the first half. So it turned out, as Flavius Daniliuc headed home from Taylor Booth's corner. If we'd have scored first, who knows?

Coach's view

Ryan Mason said: "This match probably summed up our group stage. Big moments in games, nothing in it in the first half and we were undone by a set-piece. In the second half again, their first opportunity and we concede again from a set-piece. At 2-0 down, it's difficult to judge because we were chasing the game. Still, at 2-0 down, we created some big opportunities, didn't take them and at this level, when you come up against good opposition, you get punished.

"I've said all along, it's a learning process. I have to say there are performances out there that I'm pleased with, even though we lost 3-0. The team performance wasn't great but there are some individuals who are getting better, so I'm quietly pleased with that."

Match data

UEFA Youth League, Group B

Goals: Bayern Munich - Daniliuc 20, Arrey-Mbi 50, Stiller 74.

Yellow card: Spurs - Binks 37.

Referee: Lawrence Visser (Bel).

Venue: FC Bayern Campus, Munich.

Weather: Chilly, one degree at kick-off.