Ebrima Tunkara played a starring role on Tuesday in the UEFA Youth League as Barcelona’s Under-19s drew 3-3 against Aston Villa.
The 16-year-old was named in the starting XI for the match along with Hamza Abdelkarim who dropped down from the first-team squad.
Tunkara needed only nine minutes to open the scoring, running unmarked into the box and rising high to direct a header goalwards. Goalkeeper Owen Asemota blocked the effort but couldn’t prevent
Tunkara knocking home the rebound from close range for 1-0.
The teenager then turned provider for Barcelona’s second goal, driving forwards from a central position before laying it off to Joni Hernandez to finish and double the hosts’ lead.
Aston Villa did hit back just before half-time as TJ Carroll bundled home from a corner to halve the deficit. An equaliser almost followed immediately but Rodrigo Fortes’ effort smacked against the crossbar.
However, the visitors were not to be denied and levelled just before half-time. Carroll grabbed his second of the afternoon from a corner to ensure both sides went in at the break all square.
Abdelkarim and Nil Vicens were replaced by Oscar Gistau and Xavi Miràngels at the break, and both sides went for the win in the second half.
Martinez and Mirangels both went close for Barca before Villa went ahead for the first time in the game when Markie Meade finished off a counter in the 81st minute.
Barca looked to be heading for defeat but rescued a draw in the final minute when Martinez’s shot from inside the area took a slight nick and flew across goal and into the back of the net.
