Republic FC scores late for 2-2 draw with Liverpool FC U-21s

Harry Williams scored in the 90th minute and trialist goalkeeper Justin Vom Steeg made a stoppage-time save on a dangerous free kick as Republic FC tied the Liverpool FC U-21s 2-2 in a wide-open friendly thriller Wednesday night at Greater Nevada Field in Reno.

Williams, a 20-year-old forward/midfielder from England, took a pass from JJ Koval from 30 yards, dribbled to the top of the box, cut the ball to his left foot in beating two Liverpool defenders and put his shot in the right corner past diving goalkeeper Shamal George.

Vom Steeg, a UC Santa Barbara freshman who entered in the 73rd minute for Evan Newton, knocked away Cameron Brannagan’s bending free kick from just outside the box to preserve the tie. It was the last of 16 shots, nine on goal, for the players from England.

Before an announced crowd of 6,287, Brannagan’s goal in the 77th minute put Liverpool FC ahead 2-1.

Daniel Trickett-Smith, making his first start and second appearance since joining Republic FC from Liverpool on Friday, scored against his old team in the 39th minute when his 25-yard free kick found the right corner of the net. It came after forward Adam Jahn, playing on loan from the San Jose Earthquakes, was taken down by Liverpool’s Lloyd Jones on an apparent breakaway.

Ryan Kent put Liverpool ahead 1-0 in the fifth minute when he one-touched a chip over Newton from the top of the box after slipping behind Sacramento’s back line and taking a long pass from defensive midfielder Kevin Stewart.

Republic FC, which had 13 shots, narrowly missed the net on several attempts. Forward Cameron Iwasa misfired twice on shots in the first half, one hitting the post, after nice passes from Trickett-Smith and Jahn put him one on one with George. Mackenzie Pridham chested a cross from Williams just wide in the 85th minute.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 10:16 PM with the headline "Republic FC scores late for 2-2 draw with Liverpool FC U-21s."