Posh U16s overcame The Swans on penalties to secure a place in the semi-final of the cup after an eight-goal thriller at the idverde Training Ground.
Peterborough United U16s progressed to the semi-final of the Under-16 Professional Development League Cup on Saturday morning after beating Swansea City U16s on penalties following a 4-4 draw in 120 minutes at the idverde Training Ground.
The visitors took a two-goal advantage in the first half before Rylie Fitzpatrick pulled a goal back just before the break for Posh. Joe Davies grabbed the equaliser during the second half, however, straight from kick-off, The Swans re-took the lead after an effort from the halfway line found the back of the net.
Posh brought the scores level once again with about five minutes left of normal time, with Ellis Graves grabbing the goal, forcing the game into extra-time. The Swans put themselves back ahead in the second half of extra-time before Noah Freeman netted the equaliser in the final 30 seconds of the game, taking it to a penalty shootout in which Posh won to secure their place in the final four of the competition.
Youth Development Phase Lead Coach, Elio Salerno, said: “I’m delighted and really pleased for the players as it’s a brilliant experience for them, especially it being a quarter-final and having that chance to progress. The way they won that game will be memorable for them, they showed a lot of resilience and a lot of character to come back three times, but in the moments they had to fight back.
“You have to give them a lot of credit for sticking at it and, ultimately, we deserved to win the game in the end. I said before the game that it would take the whole squad to win this game, one of the substitutes came on and scored a goal, the keeper saved three penalties, so it was a real squad effort.”
Posh XI: Trialist A, Freeman, Makis, Gilbert, Claxton, Sutherland, Davies, Trialist B, Shofowoke, Trialist C, Fitzpatrick.
Subs: Trialist D, Foulger, Muir, Graves, McWilliams-Marcano.