Liverpool beat Wrexham 1-0 in a pre-season friendly at New York's Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, with Rio Ngumoha's deflected strike proving the difference on a largely frustrating night for Andoni Iraola's side.
The game was goalless at half-time and offered little in the way of attacking quality before Ngumoha broke the deadlock in the 75th minute. The winger's effort following a driving run took a significant deflection off a Wrexham defender and looped over goalkeeper Danny Ward.
Correspondent Lewis Steele, reporting from Yankee Stadium, said Ngumoha had been quiet at times during the match, as he was in an earlier pre-season fixture in Nashville, but noted it was the winger who stepped up with the decisive moment. Steele described the finish as slightly lucky given the deflection, but suggested it was partly a product of defenders backing off because of Ngumoha's speed.
Wrexham came close to equalising in the 80th minute when Lewis Brunt met a George Dobson corner but headed over the bar. Brunt was also fortunate moments later not to turn a Kostas Tsimikas cross into his own net.
At the other end, Kieffer Moore squandered a clear chance for Wrexham in the 88th minute, firing over from six yards after Liberato Cacace pulled the ball back across goal. Will Wright also went close to doubling Liverpool's lead, coming within inches of converting a Kieran Morrison cross late on.
Liverpool made several substitutions during the second half, with Harvey Davies replacing Giorgi Mamardashvili in goal while Josh Sonni-Lambie and Mor Talla Ndiaye also came on. Dominik Szobszlai was withdrawn after 75 minutes alongside Luke Chambers.
The result gave Liverpool two wins from two in pre-season. Actors Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively were among those watching on at Yankee Stadium.
