U19s report: Napoli 1-2 Arsenal

Luis Munoz's stunning late strike helped us kick off our UEFA Youth League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Napoli at the Stadio Giuseppe Piccolo.

Andre Harriman-Annous tapped home after a loose pass in defence from the hosts in an action-packed first half.

We hit the bar twice through Axel Donczew and Maalik Hashi before Milton Pereyra levelled for the hosts on 58 minutes. The game looked to be ending all square before Munoz's incredible effort found the top corner from the edge of the box to secure all three points.

PORTER TO THE RESCUE

The first chance fell to Francesco De Stefano, who drove at the heart of our defence before unleashing a low drive that was well saved by Jack Porter.

The goalkeeper had to be alert once again moments later as Mohamed Mane raced through. His effort was well saved before the ball rebounded off the striker towards goal, only to be cleared off the line by Josh Ogunnaike.

Porter then made up for his own misplaced pass out from the back, which found Mane inside the box. The striker could not get past our goalkeeper, who tipped his shot wide.

We had our first chance after 17 minutes. Ogunnaike's dangerous cross from a free-kick found Brayden Clarke. The defender's header fell into the path of Emerson Nwaneri, who could only fire straight at Claudio Pugliese from close range.

HARD WORK PAYS OFF

We were growing into the game. Centre-back Elijah Upson, on UEFA Youth League debut for us, was able to drive through the Napoli midfield with ease to help create space for the front line. Maalik Hashi was able to find a pocket of space on the edge of the box to get his shot away, which went just wide of Pugliese's far post.

Our hard work paid off in the 28th minute. Good pressure from Ife Ibrahim on the goalkeeper and then Agostino Branchizio forced the defender to pass straight across his box and into the path of Harriman-Annous to tap home.

Napoli responded almost immediately through captain Pereyra, who looked certain to tap home but found Porter in the way to deny him from point-blank range.

The hosts were looking sharper after the hydration break in the Naples sun. A fine through-ball from Francisco Barido found Mykyta Melnyk, who tried to wrong-foot Porter with his shot, only to hit the post.

Porter produced his latest superb save just before half-time. A long cross found Melnyk at the back post, who set the ball back to captain Pereyra for a first-time finish that was pawed away by our goalkeeper.

There was just time for one last effort in the half for us as we rattled the crossbar after good work down the right-hand side, allowing Donczew to fire his effort off the woodwork. The rebound then fell kindly into the hands of Pugliese before referee Ante Culina blew his whistle for half-time.

NAPOLI BREAKTHROUGH

David Horseman made two subs at half-time, introducing Igor Tyjon and Saurap Sampang. Tyjon's good work helped launch a swift counter-attack, allowing Nwaneri got a shot away, but Pugliese saved well low to his right.

Sampang was immediately tested at right-back, as Napoli wing-back Christian Liccardo got beyond the youngster to square to Pereyra, who struck hard but Porter was a match to it.

Tyjon was causing all sorts of issues to the Napoli backline. The attacker, who signed for us this summer from Blackburn Rovers, jinked his way into the box and squared to the onrushing Hashi, who dug out an effort which flicked the crossbar on its way over.

Napoli had 20 shots in the first half, and they made the breakthrough 13 minutes into the second period. Liccardo was able to get away from Sampang and square for Melnyk at the back post. His effort was well blocked by Ogunnaike and fell to Theo Julienne, whose loose touch saw the ball fall to Pereyra, who fired home first time to level the match.

MAGNIFICENT MUNOZ

Our team took on an even younger look to it for the final 13 minutes, as Luis Munoz and Elyon Mbala were introduced by Horseman.

The hosts thought they had a winner with six minutes to play as Alessandro Rovetini lobbed Porter, but forward Ella Favicchio was given offside for his role in the build-up.

Substitute Rovetini was almost in again, meeting Porter on the edge of his box, but the goalkeeper just managed to block the effort as the hosts sensed a victory.

Both sides weren't content with a point and searched for a winner in six minutes of stoppage time. Munoz's dangerous cross evaded everyone as we couldn't tap home.

But we found our winner deep into stoppage time with a beauty from Munoz. Tyjon did well to win the ball back and fire out to Munoz, who became the youngest player in Youth League history last season, lashed his effort into the top corner from the angle.

Napoli almost levelled in the dying moments, but sub Chiaiese headed onto the post and wide as we picked up a huge victory on the road.

WHAT IT MEANS

Following our win in Naples, we'll be looking to continue our form and secure a top 22  finish in order to reach the knockout stages of the competition for the first time in this format.

WHAT NEXT

Our next UEFA Youth League match will be next month, when we take on French side Lille on Tuesday, October 13, at 1pm.

As for our other age groups, our under-18s are back in action on Saturday, September 12 against Crystal Palace. Our under-21s face Chelsea on the same day in Premier League 2.

LINE-UPS

Napoli: Pugliese, Branchizio, Lieto, Zappala, Liccardo (Chiaiese 83') , Chiummariello, De Stefano (Favicchio 80') , Melnyk, Barido (Riccio 55'), Milton Pereyra (Rovetini 83'), Mane (Esposito 46')

Subs not used: Spinelli, Lepre, Picardi, Chiaiese, D'Angelo, Rovetini

Arsenal: Porter, Ogunnaike, Clarke, Upson, Hamill (Sampang 46'), Julienne (Mbala 77'), Ibrahim (Murisa 67'), Hashi (Munoz 77'), Nwaneri, Harriman-Annous, Donczew (Tyjon 46')

Subs not used: Talbot, O'Neill, Maghoma, Abubakar