U21 Match Report | Latics 1 AFC Bournemouth 2

Latics U21s fall to a defeat at the DW Stadium against AFC Bournemouth

• U21s Professional Development League Report | Latics 1 AFC Bournemouth 2
• Latics fall to a defeat at the DW Stadium
• Goals in either half from Michael Dacosta Gonzalez and Kian Tydeman sealed the victory for the away side, despite Abdi Sharif's late strike

LATICS 1

Abdi Sharif 84'

AFC BOURNEMOUTH 2

Michael Dacosta Gonzalez 17'

Kian Tydeman 66'

Wigan Athletic U21s were narrowly edged 2-1 by AFC Bournemouth in the Professional Development League on Monday afternoon.

It was a hard-working performance from Latics' senior Academy side at the DW Stadium, but they were ultimately undone by goals from Michael Dacosta Gonzalez and Kian Tydeman despite Abdi Sharif's late strike in the 84th minute.

Latics made a number of changes from their defeat against Hull City at Christopher Park on Friday, with Eko Solomon, Kai Payne, Leo Graham and Youssef Chentouf returning to the starting line-up. 

It was a slow burner during the infancy of the Professional Development League encounter, with both sides taking their time to find their rhythm and settle into the game at the DW Stadium. AFC Bournemouth crafted the first opportunity of the afternoon when both full-backs combined and Charlie Osborne headed wide of the target from a dangerous Finn Tonks cross. 

With 17 minutes on the clock, Dacosta Gonzalez made the breakthrough for the Cherries when he broke into the penalty area from Latics' left and fired a low strike underneath Matty Corran and into the back of the net.

Latics nearly responded just minutes later, with Chentouf chasing down a long ball over the top and piping the defender to a loose ball. He drove into the box and looked to pick out the bottom corner with a fine strike, but Callan McKenna was equal to it, getting a strong hand to the effort and recovering quickly to stop Max McMillan from pouncing on the follow-up.

The home side gained control following Bournemouth's opener, and Jack Bates had two bites of the cherry to try and force an equaliser, notably seeing his goal-bound effort blocked by Max Kinsey. Payne, on his return to U21s action following a spell on the sidelines, also tested the visiting goalkeeper, but the midfielder did not get the connection that he wanted on his low strike.

Latics could certainly take away some positives from their finish to the first 45, and the impetus was on Chris Brown's side to carry over their sustained momentum into the second to get back level.

 

A loose backpass presented Bournemouth with a sight-on goal inside the first five minutes of the second half, but Eko Solomon did brilliantly to block Daniel Adu-Adjei's effort and stop it from potentially troubling Corran in the Latics goal. 

However, Latics picked up from where they left off in the first half in terms of ball retention and territory in the opposition half. Abdi Sharif, who was as lively as ever in the engine room, set it out wide to Brennan who curled a right-footed effort into the hands of McKenna. 

Despite enjoying some strong spells, Latics conceded a second in the 66th minute when Tydeman led and finished a fast-paced counter attack, placing a low effort beyond Corran. 

The Cherries were lifted after doubling their advantage at the DW, and Dominic Sadi started another counter charge and threaded through Adu-Adjei, who lashed a first-time effort wide of the near post.

Six minutes from time, Latics halved the deficit through a well-worked goal from Sharif. Substitute Reece Greenhalgh was through on goal and perfectly timed his pass to Sharif, who confidently dispatched his strike into the bottom corner.

 

 

Greenhalgh was again involved during the game's rally, as he showed great vision and creativity to thread through Kieran Lloyd, but the Latics captain was denied at point-blank range by McKenna.

Latics' late rally however proved to be too late in the day to salvage a point and Brown's young charges came away from the game empty-handed. They will look to bounce back on Friday, when they welcome Coventry City to Christopher Park.