Sheffield United's Michael Tonge hit a second half double to leave his team on the brink of the Worthington Cup final after a 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Bramall Lane this evening. Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has been a long-time admirer 19-year-old Tonge and it was easy to see why with Tonge scoring a stunning late second-half brace as United came from behind to snatch the first leg advantage of this semi final.
That was after Mellor, whose father Ian once played for Wednesday, scored his first goal for Liverpool with a 35th-minute close-range header. It came from a Danny Murphy's free-kick which was flicked on by Sami Hyypia for Mellor at the far post where he headed home from point-blank range.
Liverpool had dominated the match for the most part and were fully in control until late in the second half when Tonge stepped up to give United the initiative going into the second leg.
He raced onto a threaded through ball before nutmegging Kirkland with a left-foot drive from 15 yards after 79 minutes. Then eight minutes from time Tonge gave United the lead with a sweet right-foot drive from 19 yards which gave Kirkland no chance.
Murphy almost salvaged a draw for the visitors with powerful drive from the edge of the area late on but was denied by great save by Paddy Kenny in the Sheffield goal.
"I am looking forward to it (the return leg)," Tonge said afterwards. "All the lads are exited by it. It will be a night to enjoy, we have got the lead and something to play for. I had not scored for a while and the lads had been giving me a bit of stick, so it was nice to pop two in tonight."
Spaeking about his own future, he added, "I am just trying to concentrate on my game. Whatever happens is not in my hands."
On the strength of this performance, Houllier is now likely to pursue Tongue with a vengeance during the summer, although the teenager has almost certainly doubled his £5million price tag.
Filed by Johnny Proby
