Youngsters score nine in UEFA Youth League thriller

Our Under-19s were five-star against Red Star as we secured our biggest-ever UEFA Youth League victory with a 9-2 win over Crvena zvezda on Tuesday afternoon.

Striker Troy Parrott led the way with four goals - two either side of half-time - while J'Neil Bennett and first-year scholar Max Robson marked their first European appearances of the season by getting on the scoresheet as we dominated proceedings at Hotspur Way.

The Serbian visitors weren't going away, captain Borisav Burmaz and Milos Pantovic ensuring they remained within touching distance, but we pulled clear when Parrott completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot to make it 5-2, Kion Etete subsequently opening his European account before further goals from Parrott, Harvey White and Paris Maghoma in the closing moments.

It means we're up to second with four points after three matches in Group B, with the return fixture against Crvena zvezda to come next in a fortnight's time.

An early mistake by the visitors saw us forge ahead inside three minutes and we never looked back. Goalkeeper Andrija Katic's scuffed clearance was latched onto in space by left winger Bennett and he unleashed a low right-foot, first-time shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards. Ilija Babic fired straight at our goalkeeper Jonathan De Bie shortly afterwards but we were in firm control, albeit without really getting at the Serbian side for the first quarter of the game.

Parrott's near-post strike was well saved mid-way through the first period but he wasn't to be denied on the half-hour mark, firing high into the net from the left angle after latching onto Bennett's reverse pass. And after Uros Blagojevic headed over for the visitors, the striker made it 3-0 just two minutes later with an innovative finish - De Bie's route one goal-kick caused problems for Crvena zvezda, Parrott won a 50-50 challenge with Katic, the ball ran loose and the young Irishman turned his body to divert the ball into the net from a grounded position. Dennis Cirkin and Bennett went close as we continued on the front foot, but Crvena zvezda reduced the deficit two minutes before the break when our defence stood off their captain, Burmaz, and he lashed high past De Bie from 20 yards.

An early second-half strike saw the three-goal cushion restored as Robson produced a first-time finish from inside the area after a good cross from right-back TJ Eyoma, but within a minute Crvena zvezda responded again as Pantovic's effort found the net despite Malachi Fagan-Walcott's efforts to intervene. After a couple of near-misses from central midfielder White, it could have been 4-3 when Burmaz latched onto the ball six yards out, but for a superb last-ditch block from Luis Binks.

We were wearing Red Star down, however, and the goals began flowing freely after Parrott completed his hat-trick from the spot following a foul on Cirkin with 16 minutes remaining. Maurizio Pochettino crossed for fellow substitute Etete to tap in at the far post on 82 minutes, Parrott brought his tally to four after latching onto Eyoma's through ball four minutes later and after Pochettino was denied by keeper Katic, White curled home a trademark free-kick to bring up number eight in the first minute of stoppage time. There was still time for one more, though, as Pochettino cut back for Maghoma to fire home in the 93rd minute.

Key moment

We started brightly and the early goal from Bennett only lifted everyone further. The winger reacted quickest to latch onto a scuffed goal-kick in midfield, drilling low into the net unchallenged from 25 yards in the third minute. From there, we dominated the game.

Coach’s view

Academy Coach Ryan Mason said: “I thought we were outstanding today. It was a must-win game if we want to get out of the group so I’m pleased with the attitude, the aggression and we were so committed as well. We spoke a lot about certain things before the game and in terms of hitting what we wanted them to, the players were outstanding at it. Some of the goals were excellent as well. Usually when you play against teams in Europe, you don’t have that many chances and you have to be clinical. When we played against Bayern a few weeks ago they were super-clinical and scored four goals against us. Today, we had 13 shots on target and nine of them ended up in goals so I’m really pleased for the forward players and as a whole, as a team, it was just a really good performance.”

Match data

Goals: Spurs - Bennett 3, Parrott 30, 32, 74 (pen), 86, Robson 48, Etete 82, White 90+1, Maghoma 90+3; Crvena zvezda - Burmaz 43, Pantović 49.

Yellow cards: Crvena zvezda - Milikic 13, Matić 39.

Referee: Iwan Arwel Griffith (WAL).

Venue: Hotspur Way, Enfield.

Weather: Sunny, 14 degrees.

Attendance: 263.