U21 Report: Saints 2-2 Dinamo Zagreb

The visitors opened the scoring inside the first minute through Toni Majić’s well-taken strike, but Saints levelled through an instinctive overhead kick from Luke Pearce.

Zagreb restored their lead in the second half through Vilim Gec, but Pearce struck once more in the closing stages with the game’s final goal despite late efforts to find a winner.

Adam Asghar fielded a mixed line-up for the final game of 2023 as club captain Jack Stephens started to gain more minutes after returning to action at the weekend, whilst 15-year-old Harrison Miles made his Under-21s debut in midfield.

Jack Stephens got more minutes in the tank. (Photos: Chris Moorhouse)

The visitors got off to the perfect start at Snows Stadium with only 54 seconds on the clock, when Majić intercepted Stephens’s pass and curled a powerful shot into the far corner.

Saints were stunned by the early opener, but soon regained their composure to get back into the game; a team move started by Stephens led to a dangerous cross from Jake Vokins that was pounced upon by Antonio Rajić in goal.

Sam Amo-Ameyaw was a threat on the right wing and had an angled drive saved, before some silky footwork set up Saints’ 14th-minute equaliser.

The wide man beat his defender with ease but his cross was cleared up and not out, allowing Pearce, man-marked with his back to goal, to instinctively hook an overhead kick past the stranded Rajić.

Saints began to get a hold of the game more after their equaliser, and Josh Lett was next to go close with a driven strike from the edge of the box that was pushed away from the top corner.

Amo-Ameyaw once again tied his opposing man in knots as he drove towards goal, but could only poke a shot straight at the goalkeeper after weaving his way into space in the area.

Pearce closed out the half with a near post effort that was saved, as Saints looked the more likely to take the lead.

Luke Pearce is congratulated after his first goal.

After the break, both sides saw efforts crash against the crossbar within a minute of each other as Ivan Cvetko’s header and Derrick Abu’s first time strike struck the woodwork.

It was the visitors who were next to convert, however, as they restored their lead in the 55th minute when they broke at pace and Tomas Baković cut the ball back, leaving Josh Jeffries stranded whilst Gec swept the ball home.

Saints chased a quick response and Tyler Dibling saw a curling free-kick agonisingly whistle wide of the top corner.

The second 15-year-old in the matchday squad, Alejandro Gomes Rodroguez, was introduced and made an instant impact as he forced his way past the defence and had an angled shot saved.

A second equaliser seemed imminent as a neat team move saw Amo-Ameyaw release Sonnie Davis on the overlap, who in turn cut the ball back to Lett whose shot was saved. 

Not to be denied for long, Saints levelled again as a poor clearance from Rajić reached Dibling, who timed his pass well for Pearce to power home from inside the area.

Much like in the first half, Saints rallied after equalising and had several chances during the seven minutes of stoppage time.

Amo-Ameyaw beat two defenders but was closed down as he shot straight at the goalkeeper, before Gomes Rodriguez’s quick thinking throw in found Pearce whose volley was well tipped away.

Will Armitage saw a header drop narrowly wide from the resulting corner, and Dibling saw a shot saved inside a crowded area, as Saints continued to knock on the door.

A second consecutive late winner didn’t materialise though, and Saints were forced to settle for a point in their final match of the year.

Saints: Jeffries, Abu (Davis 56), Stephens (Armitage 46), Moore, Meghoma, Miles, Amo-Ameyaw, Dibling (captain), Pearce, Lett, Vokins (Gomes Rodriguez 73).

Subs not used: Mohamed, Awe, Stepien-Iwumene.

Goals: Pearce 14, 79.

Dinamo Zagreb: Rajić, Ante Sušak, Cvetko, Čaić, Kujundžić, Vilim Gec (Zahora 89), Baković, Sertić (Duduković 83), Majić, Zebić, Graonić (Pavlek 77).

Subs not used: Kovačić, Ruškovački, Košćević, Kegalj.

Goals: Majić 1, Gec 55.

Yellow Cards: Čaić 53, Sušak 73, Kujundžić 82.