Belgrade blow for Under-19s

Our Under-19s fell to a 2-0 defeat to Crvena zvezda in a disappointing UEFA Youth League showing in Serbia on Wednesday afternoon.

We never really looked a threat and after an uneventful first half, Andrija Radulovic beat the off-side trap and fired his side ahead with just over 20 minutes remaining. J'Neil Bennett thought he'd equalised late on with our only meaningful shot on target but his long-range effort was somehow clawed away by goalkeeper Andrija Katic and Petar Piplica stepped off the bench to seal the deal for the hosts deep into added time.

The result sees Crvena zvezda jump above us into second place in Group B.

The match was held at the unique Voždovac Stadium, built on top of a shopping complex just a couple of miles from Red Star's main Rajko Mitic Stadium but unfortunately we were unable to produce the goods on the synthetic playing surface - in stark contrast to the goalfest served up in the first meeting between the sides at Hotspur Way a fortnight ago. Crvena zvezda were unchanged from our 9-2 victory that day, while we only made the only change with Tashan Oakley-Boothe in for Troy Parrott.

Winger Bennett played through the middle during the first half in the absence of a recognised striker but had no joy, with our performance uncharacteristically flat. Despite our domination of the ball in the early exchanges, it was actually the hosts who had the better chances in the first half as Borisav Burmaz and Milos Pantovic fired just wide and Martin Novakovic's shot was well stopped by goalkeeper Jonathan De Bie after Jamie Bowden's clearance had been charged down just outside the box.

We had a couple of set-pieces but still couldn't trouble Katic in the Crvena zvezda goal, with a smattering of yellow cards handed out in the second half as we continued to probe for an opener. Dilan Markanday went central for a while but just couldn't connect with Harvey White's delivery into the box as space briefly opened up for us mid-way through the second half - that could have been a decisive moment.

Coach Ryan Mason introduced Tarrelle Whittaker to lead the line but Red Star opened the scoring almost immediately, Radulovic just about managing to stay onside and slotting the ball beyond De Bie from the left angle on 69 minutes. Markanday and TJ Eyoma had half-chances but when Bennett cut in from the left and let fly in the 91st minute, it needed a fine save from Katic to keep Red Star ahead. Piplica, only on the pitch for less than a minute, made sure with 93 on the watch, rolling past De Bie after Ilija Babic's clever back-heel at the near post set him up.

Key moment

You could point to the opening goal or the fine save from fine save from Andrija Katic to deny J'Neil Bennett an equaliser late on, but the key moment is also a 'what might have been' moment when Dilan Markanday couldn't quite connect with Harvey White's cross midway through the second half. It was goalless at the time and Andrija Radulovic opened the scoring minutes later. 

Coach's view

Ryan Mason said: "We're all massively disappointed. It was exactly what we expected and we prepared for this type of game against a very tough opponent in their own country. You have to credit them after turning around the result from two weeks ago to the result today. It's a good benchmark for our players because this is what it's about, this is as real as it gets and some passed the test.

"It was tough, the conditions and the artificial playing surface can make it difficult but that's not an excuse for us not creating a great deal. To be perfectly honest, after 10, 15 minutes it was exactly the game I thought it was going to be. It felt like it was heading towards a 0-0 draw but a lapse of concentration cost us and as I said, this is a really good benchmark. Unfortunately, some of our players didn't do themselves justice. It's very important they all learn from this experience. They are young and you either move on quickly and learn from it or if you don't, football passes you by. Hopefully we'll learn from this and again, some of our players did pass the test."

Match data

Goals: Crvena zvezda - Radulovic 69, Piplica 90+3.

Yellow cards: Crvena zvezda - Mitrovic 59, Radulovic 83, Burmaz 86, Piplica 90+3; Spurs - Cirkin 54, Bennett 63, Markanday 65.

Referee: Sebastian Gishaumer (AUT).

Venue: Voždovac Stadium, Belgrade.

Weather: Rain, 14 degrees.

Attendance: 650.