Charlton U18s’ second seven-goal thriller of the season ended in defeat on Saturday, as the young Addicks lost 4-3 to Burnley.
The visitors made a fast start and went ahead in the fifth minute when captain Ben Jordison touched home Zach Johnson’s in-swinging free kick.
Jason Pearce’s side responded well and went close to drawing level when Emmanuel Sol-Loza saw his right-foot effort tipped around the post by John Vilar Robinson.
But in the 12th minute the Clarets doubled their lead, Ollie Pimlott sending Jude Sadler the wrong way from the penalty spot.
What followed from the Addicks was nothing short of remarkable. In less than half an hour, they turned the game on its head and went into the break 3-2 in front.
First, in the 14th minute, Bradley Tagoe’s short corner caught everyone out and eventually allowed Reuben Reid to pull back to Jacob Safa on the edge of the box, and the captain’s shot was too powerful for goalkeeper Robinson.
Then, on the half-hour mark, Reid was played into space by Sol-Loza and skipped inside Noah Adekoya to pass the ball into Robinson’s bottom left corner.
The turnaround was completed five minutes before half time when Manu Wales played a one-two with Ethan Brown before slamming the ball into the top corner from just inside the area.
The score would remain 3-2 until the 85th minute when the Addicks would be struck by a cruel quickfire double from the visitors, the first coming when Frankie McMahon-Brown’s corner was turned in by Fabio So to level the scoring.
The winner came three minutes later, and it was some goal. Jude Sadler came off his line to deal with a long ball from Johnson, but his clearance returned possession to the Burnley midfielder.
Johnson, from all of 45 yards, lobbed the ball over the retreating goalkeeper and into the net. The Addicks did not deserve to lose the game, but Johnson’s goal deserved to win it.
Next up for the U18s is a trip to Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.
Charlton: Sadler; Elliott, Cann (Davis 70), Dawkins; Brown, Safa, Wales, Fullah, Tagoe; Sol-Loza (Burnham 66), Reid
Sub (not used): Woodham, Belton, Olatunji
Goals: Safa 14, Reid 30, Wales 40
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