Academy edged out by Copenhagen at Hotspur Way

Our youngsters suffered their first UEFA Youth League defeat of the season on Tuesday afternoon, losing out 3-2 to FC Copenhagen at Hotspur Way.

Having conceded to Gunnar Olsen and Dominik Sarapata in the closing stages of a disappointing first half, we improved after the restart and were thrown a lifeline four minutes into the second period when Callum Olusesi tapped home.

Copenhagen, however, were able to fashion a third goal through Jonathan Moalem soon afterwards and although substitute Tynan Thompson reduced our arrears once more, we couldn’t find a way back as our 100 per cent record in the competition came to an end on matchday four.

Missing a handful of regular starters due to international duty and injuries, our much-changed team had a few early opportunities to take the lead, George Feeney lobbing goalkeeper Oscar Buur but seeing his effort cleared off the line by Graham Ankamafio, Oli Irow’s angled drive pushed away by Buur and Tyley Tingey’s header from Harry Byrne’s free-kick scrambled out of the goalmouth by Aske Christensen with James Rowswell putting the pressure on.

Copenhagen turned the tide, though, and after Moalem headed a good chance over the bar and saw a low shot saved by Sam Archer, Andul Daramy again tested the latter, swiped a subsequent volley just wide and was then denied by Rowswell’s clearance after beating the keeper at his near post.

Enjoying the better of the chances at that stage, the Danish outfit took a 31st-minute lead when Sarapata beat the offside trap in the inside right channel and squared for Olsen to convert from the middle of the box. Nine minutes later, it was 2-0 as Sarapata cut in from the left and picked out the far bottom corner on his right foot to leave us with an uphill task going in at half-time.

The introduction of Tye Hall into central midfield at the break made a big difference for us and within four minutes of the resumption we had a goal back, Harry Byrne’s corner nodded back across the box by young defender Tyley Tingey – on his first UEFA Youth League start – for Olusesi to nudge home from close range. Hall played Reiss Elliott-Parris in just after that, but the striker fired agonisingly wide of the far post.

Our efforts to get back level suffered a blow on 54 minutes as Sarapata was allowed to roam unchallenged through our midfield and set up Moalem, who took a touch and finished clinically down to Archer’s right.

Byrne’s low drive was diverted onto his own crossbar by Copenhagen’s Ankamafio as we went back on the offensive before Thompson responded for us once again just four minutes after coming off the bench. Fellow substitute Armend Muslika’s cut-back saw Olusesi’s shot blocked by the keeper, but Thompson was alert at the back post to fire home emphatically before fittingly pointing to the sky, marking an important goal for him on a personal level.

Unfortunately, we were unable to really find another gear to push for an equaliser after that and in truth it was Copenhagen who went closest to adding to the scoreline when Liam West sent a free-kick just over the bar.

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Olusesi 49, T Thompson 73; Copenhagen – Olsen 31, Sarapata 40, Moalem 54.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Tye Hall 64, Rowswell 77, Tingey 85; Copenhagen – Ankamafio 14.

Referee: Miguel Nogueira (POR).

Venue: Hotspur Way, Enfield.

Weather: Light cloud, gentle breeze, 15 degrees.

Attendance: 325.