U19s beaten by Barcelona

Match highlights:

In a hard-fought contest, VfB’s youngsters made a bold start in front of the 9,500 spectators packed into the sold-out GAZi-Stadion auf der Waldau. They took a deserved lead through Matthaios Tsigkas in the 29^th minute and could have doubled their advantage not long afterwards, but Mirza Catovic could only drag his shot wide.

Barcelona made it 1-1 through Arnau Pradas shortly before the break, and it was 2-1 eight minutes into the second half when Jan Virgili found the net with a precise effort. VfB’s Under-19s pushed for an equaliser but were repeatedly denied by Barcelona goalkeeper Aron Yaakobishvili as the Spanish side held on for a hard-fought 2-1 win. 

Reaction

Nico Willig: “Of course we’re disappointed with the outcome of the game, but the overriding emotion is pride. We’ve delivered brilliant performances throughout the whole season, including today. It’s bitterly disappointing and painful that the game didn’t swing in our favour and that we weren’t the ones who got the second goal, but that’s sport for you. It was an even game in which we lacked that final spark. The lads showed tremendous character and have shown the whole of Europe how good they really are.”

Goals:

29th minute: Dorian Migalic does brilliantly to win the ball in midfield, allowing Lauri Penna to carry the ball into the final third and tee up Tsigkas. The forward beats his marker before firing VfB into the lead with a powerful strike from ten metres.

40th minute: A moment of miscommunication in the VfB defence allows Pradas a clear run on goal. He keeps his composure to fire the equaliser past Florian Hellstern.

53rd minute: Virgili finds space on the right-hand side before driving into the penalty area and sending a well-placed effort past Hellstern to put the visitors ahead.