Geez
22-05-2010, 08:32 AM
Source: Official Site
Our Academy side put in their best display of the tournament so far - but it wasn't enough to earn them the win needed to take them through to the semi-finals of the Tournoi International de Monthey in Switzerland.
The lads came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Zenit St Petersburg in their final group game - but it is the Russians who advance on goal difference.
It makes our 5-0 opening game defeat at the hands of Boca Juniors ultimately costly after we got ourselves back in the reckoning with victory over hosts FC Monthey on Thursday.
But a win over Zenit was needed to give us a chance of defending the title we have won for the last two years running.
Instead, we will play off against the third placed team from the other group to determine fifth and sixth place overall on Sunday.
Despite falling behind against the Russians, the lads got themselves level after good work from Adam Smith and Alex Pritchard resulted in an opposing defender turning into his own net.
From here, we looked like the only likely winners until a goal against the run of play put Zenit back in front before Ryan Mason levelled things up late on.
Academy manager John McDermott said: "We hit the post, the bar and had a host of chances but got hit on the counter-attack twice, which is very frustrating.
"But it was our best performance out of the three by a mile - I thought we were excellent. A number of the lads put in outstanding performances."
Our Academy side put in their best display of the tournament so far - but it wasn't enough to earn them the win needed to take them through to the semi-finals of the Tournoi International de Monthey in Switzerland.
The lads came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Zenit St Petersburg in their final group game - but it is the Russians who advance on goal difference.
It makes our 5-0 opening game defeat at the hands of Boca Juniors ultimately costly after we got ourselves back in the reckoning with victory over hosts FC Monthey on Thursday.
But a win over Zenit was needed to give us a chance of defending the title we have won for the last two years running.
Instead, we will play off against the third placed team from the other group to determine fifth and sixth place overall on Sunday.
Despite falling behind against the Russians, the lads got themselves level after good work from Adam Smith and Alex Pritchard resulted in an opposing defender turning into his own net.
From here, we looked like the only likely winners until a goal against the run of play put Zenit back in front before Ryan Mason levelled things up late on.
Academy manager John McDermott said: "We hit the post, the bar and had a host of chances but got hit on the counter-attack twice, which is very frustrating.
"But it was our best performance out of the three by a mile - I thought we were excellent. A number of the lads put in outstanding performances."