Charlton's U18s had their substitutes to thank on Saturday as they came from behind to beat Birmingham City 2-1.
The result brings the young Addicks level with Bristol City at the top of the Professional Development League (PDL) South table.
Despite a strong start from Jason Pearce's side, it was the Blues who took the lead in the 27th minute. From the right, Yusuf Ahmed played a short corner to Zaid Betteka, who laid it further inside to Alvaro Ruiz Rente. The wing-back took a touch before rolling across goal for Godfred Boakye, who touched the ball home at the near post.
The goal came against the run of play but Charlton continued to push and eventually got their reward in the 75th minute. Micah Mbick and Alan Mwamba showed tremendous composure to exchange the ball back and forth on the edge of the Birmingham box, before Mbick worked the ball into the area for Mwamba.
The substitute’s cross was played into a dangerous area and Boakye, the hero in the first half, was only able to divert the ball into his own net.
There was still time for a winner, which the young Addicks snatched in the 84th minute with a wonderful counter-attack. Captain Keenan Gough pinched the ball midway inside his own half, before Mwamba released Emmanuel Sol-Loza on the left with a raking pass.
Sol-Loza still had a lot to do, but the striker will be high on confidence having scored a hat-trick in last week’s U16s PDL Cup final win - and he showed it, racing inside his man before lashing in at the far post.
It was a goal worthy of winning any game, and it means that the U18s will kick-off against Bournemouth on Tuesday knowing that a point will see them crowned Professional Development League South champions.
Charlton: Sadler; Elliott, Cann, Hunter; Brown, Safa (Sol-Loza 62), Gough (c), Wales, Tagoe (Mwamba 73); Mbick, Fullah
Subs (not used): Woodham, Ogunnowo, McMillan
Goals: Boakye (og) 75, Sol-Loza 84
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