Williams-Barnett scores five in stunning 9-1 win over Slavia Under-19s

Luca Williams-Barnett stole the show with a blistering five-goal salvo as our Academy team soared to our record win in the UEFA Youth League against Slavia Prague on Tuesday afternoon.

Hat-tricks seemed to be the order of the day at one point with Tynan Thompson the first to hit three, with returning captain Callum Olusesi also providing a trio of assists before Williams-Barnett took over, completing his treble just beyond the hour mark before netting twice more in quick succession in the latter stages – one a beautiful free-kick, the pick of his goals during the afternoon, and the second a low finish inside the near post – to become our first player ever to score five goals in a single game in the competition.

Defender James Rowswell followed up with his fourth UEFA Youth League goal of the campaign to round off the scoring six minutes from time, Samuel Pikolon responsible for the Czech side’s only response shortly before the interval, as our astonishing 9-1 victory trumped our previous best in this competition – a 9-2 thrashing of Red Star Belgrade in 2019 – and elevated us into sixth place in the standings.

We’d already secured qualification for the round of 32 after winning our opening three matches, but a top six finish would mean we’d be seeded and receive a favourable draw in the next stage, although we’ll need to wait for the remaining matchday six action to conclude across Tuesday and Wednesday before knowing exactly where we’ll end up.

It was a wonderful display from the whole team against a Slavia side who had scored five in home victories over Arsenal and Bodo/Glimt earlier in the competition – even goalkeeper Dylan Thompson chipped in with an assist for his namesake on the wing amidst an impressive showing on his European debut.

We opened the scoring after 11 minutes at Hotspur Way as midfielder Olusesi broke into space on the right and worked the ball across to Tynan Thompson, who fired home from the left angle to get himself on the scoresheet in a fifth of six league stage matches – the defeat at Paris Saint-Germain a fortnight ago the only time he hasn’t found the target.

Adam Rajnoha was a whisker away for Slavia while Tye Hall and Malachi Hardy went close for us before Olusesi latched onto a mistake at the back to set up Williams-Barnett to make it 2-0 in the 21st minute. Goalkeeper Dylan Thompson’s kicking was causing problems for the visitors and with 32 minutes played, his launch up-field outfoxed their defence and allowed Tynan Thompson to go through and double his tally, although two minutes later Slavia responded amidst their best spell of the game as a well-worked short corner routine saw Rajnoha’s cross converted at the back post by Pikolon.

Williams-Barnett made it look easy, though, as he restored our three-goal lead two minutes after the interval, collecting another Olusesi pass before turning inside the retreating Simon Sloncik and curling into the top corner on his left foot. Five minutes later, Leo Black – operating as a false nine – won possession high up the pitch and set up winger Thompson to complete his hat-trick.

Five soon became six as Williams-Barnett joined Thompson in the hat-trick club, defender Rowswell superbly breaking out from the back and setting up our number 10 to fire home on 62 minutes. At that stage, Slavia had no answer for Williams-Barnett and on 77 minutes he fired home the pick of the bunch, a sumptuous long-range free-kick into the top corner after himself being brought down. And two minutes later, he drilled home again following Black’s second assist of the game to bring up number five for himself and number eight for us, the attacking midfielder substituted off to a large ovation just afterwards.

We still had more to offer, though, as in the 84th minute, Harry Byrne’s free-kick was parried by goalkeeper Adam Paar, with Rowswell on hand at the back post to finish from a tight angle and ensure an already impressive win became a record-breaking one.

Match data

Goals: Spurs – T Thompson 11, 38, 52, Williams-Barnett 21, 47, 62, 77, 79, Rowswell 84; Slavia Prague – Pikolon 40.

Yellow card: Slavia Prague – Holub 82.

Referee: Oliver Reitala (FIN).

Venue: Hotspur Way, Enfield.

Weather: Light rain, fresh breeze, 14 degrees.

Attendance: 325.