update: Young Dons through to the final

The U20s are currently in Portugal. Their pre-season training camp, which is funded by the Leonardo da Vinci Project, lasts about two weeks. U20 coach Paul Sheerin is accompanied by coaches Scott Anderson and Gavin Levey as well as physio Aimee Clark. The squad are staying at the Browns Sports and Leisure Club in Vilamoura, Portugal.

Squad in Portugal: Marcus Campanile, Lewis Dunbar, Cem Felek, Kieran Gibbons, Daniel Harvie, Jamie Henry, Michael Jones, Michael Kelly, Conor Mackey (GK), Scott McKenna, Robbie Mutch (U17 GK) Aaron Norris, Kalvin Orsi, Richie Petrie, Sam Robertson, Michael Rose, Frank Ross

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Nath Boys 0-0 Aberdeen

Aberdeen win 4-3 on penalties

Match Summary

Aberdeen U20s this evening won through to the final of the LDV Cup in Portugal after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Nigerian side Nath Boys. The game finished 0-0 but Aberdeen kept their nerve to win 4-3 on penalties. They win now meet English Premiership side Hull City in the final on Friday.

Aberdeen lined up with Mutch in goal, Dunbar was at right back with Harvie at left back. The centre backs were Michael Rose and Scott McKenna. The midfield four were Gibbons, Kelly, Campanile and Ross. Jones played up front with Norris.

Nath Boys were a decent side with a lot of pace and were very unpredictable. It took the young Dons a while to get to grips with their African opponents. Aberdeen at first struggled to get a footing in the match and in the end they had to show a lot of character to get the victory.

It was a very tight game throughout.

In the first half Paul Sheerin’s side did not pass the game as well as they can but defended very well. Captain Scott McKenna, who was singled out for praise after the first game, was outstanding again. It was a tough test for the all the defenders but they stood up to their task well. AFC Youth Academy U17 Goalkeeper Robbie Mutch, making his debut for the 20s, did very well and looked assured throughout. In the second half Aberdeen played better and territorially shaded it although their opponents probably had the better of the chances.

As early as the second minute the Dons very nearly took the lead. They had a corner and from it Daniel Harvie had a chance that was cleared off the line. On 13 minutes Nath Boys had a one on one with debutant Robbie Mutch but the keeper saved well. In the 17th minute Aberdeen got a break when the Nigerians had a goal disallowed for offside after a fast break. It was a close thing but it did look the correct decision. Shortly after that Nath had a penalty appeal waved away after a last ditch McKenna tackle. On the 27th minute Mutch made another good save, this time from a free kick.

HT 0-0

The first chance in the second half came in the 52nd minute. A long free kick was played in and McKenna, arriving late, was not far away but he could not get a vital touch. In the 59th minute Nath Boys had their best chance and very nearly scored after a fast break. The ball was whipped into the six yard box and their striker really should have found the net. In the 76th minute great play by Sam Robertson set up an opportunity. He slipped the ball to Jamie Henry who delivered a great ball across the penalty box but Norris could not get onto the end of it. Aberdeen piled on the pressure in the closing stages and went looking for a winner. Michael Kelly put a great diagonal ball into the box from the left side. Jamie Henry met the cross but his header was just off target. They kept the pressure up but could not get a winner and the match went to penalties.

FT 0-0

In the penalty shoot-out Nath went first and scored. The first Dons penalty was taken by Michael Rose and he scored. Robbie Mutch then saved the next Nigerian penalty and Marcus Campanile scored the Dons second to put them ahead. Nath scored their third, as did Michael Kelly. Nath scored their fourth but Scott McKenna found the net to keep Aberdeen ahead. The pressure was then really on Nath and their fifth penalty taker hit to bar.

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Portimonense 0-3 Aberdeen

Aberdeen (4-2-3-1) |  Mackey, Robertson, Dunbar, McKenna, Harvie, Henry, Kelly, Rose, Ross, Felek, Jones

Match summary:

Aberdeen’s U20 side defeated Portimonense this evening by three goals to nil in the first match in Portugal. The Dons did well not to concede early on, particularly on 14 minutes when Mackey saved well from a free kick. However, on 24 minutes Paul Sheerin made a tactical change and switched to a diamond formation to cope with the early pressure from Portimonense.

On 26 minutes, Michael Kelly curled a long free kick inches wide of the post and a couple of minutes later Jones had a good chance saved well after good work by Frank Ross. The Dons pressure continued & on 29 minutes they got their reward with the opening goal. Kelly took a corner kick, Rose had a good corner header cleared before Scott McKenna headed into the ball into the net.

A minute before half time, Jones held the ball up well up front and laid it off to Felek but his shot failed to beat the goalkeeper.

HT 0-1

On 55 minutes the Dons made two substitutions with Orsi replacing Felek and Campanile replacing Kelly and 7 minutes later they doubled their lead. Good play by Campanile played in Orsi who played a clever pass between the defenders for Henry to finish well into the far corner. A really good goal for Aberdeen.

Paul Sheerin made two changes on the 63rd minute, the first saw Kieran Gibbons make his return to action after 9 months out following ankle surgery. He replaced Frank Ross while Sam Robertson was replaced by Petrie.

Aberdeen continued the pressure and it was evident that their pre-season fitness programme was paying off. Towards the end of the match a Portimonense free kick came to nothing before The Dons scored a third on 89 minutes. Orsi played another through ball for the hard working Jones, who slipped it past the keeper.

 

In the LDV Cup semi final today (Monday) Hull City won on penalties after drawing 2-2 with Portamanese, who the Dons beat on Friday. Aberdeen will now play Nath Boys of Nigeria tomorrow evening (Tuesday) at 6:15pm in their Semi Final.

Leonardo da Vinci Project | Fixtures

11/07/2014

Portimonense 0-3 Aberdeen

KO 20:00

15/07/2014

Nath Boys v Aberdeen

KO 18:15

18/07/2014

Hull City v Aberdeen

KO 18:15

AFC Youth Academy News

Please be advised of the following international team selections which have recently been received:

PLAYER NAME(S):Daniel Harvie, Frank Ross & Aaron Norris

COUNTRY: Scotland

AGE GROUP: U16

MATCH/CAMP: International Tournament – 3rd Copa Mexico de Naciones 2014

DATE: 30th July – 12th August

VENUE: Mexico City

 

PLAYER NAME(S): Reece Willison, Darren Hynes, Connor McLennan & Seyon Kosheodo

COUNTRY:Scotland

AGE GROUP:U15

MATCH/CAMP:Training Camp

DATE:20th – 22nd July 2014

VENUE:National Centre, Inverclyde