Quote:
Barclays U21 Premier League
Lamex Stadium, Stevenage
TOTTENHAM U21 1
(Oduwa 88)
UNITED U21 2
(Januzaj 87, Thorpe 91)
|
.
29/09/2014 - ManUtd.com, Adam Marshall
Under-21s: Spurs 1 United 2
Manchester United's Under-21s won 2-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at Stevenage's Lamex Stadium in a game of few chances until a dramatic conclusion.
Adnan Januzaj's brilliant free-kick was worthy of winning any match but a controversial equaliser within a matter of seconds, by Nathan Oduwa, immediately cancelled it out. As the game moved into injury time, Januzaj turned provider to send over a corner for Tom Thorpe to head in the winner.
Warren Joyce fielded a strong side with plenty of firepower in Januzaj, James Wilson and Will Keane but the Reds struggled to test Luke McGee in the Spurs goal. Wilson did latch onto a Callum Evans pass inside two minutes and produced a dangerous centre that evaded Keane in the middle.
Spurs replied with a Oduwa shot over the bar and Cristian Ceballos' header wide but the play was congested in the midfield with both sides working extremely hard to limit time and space on the ball. Alexander McQueen was booked for a bad foul on Marnick Vermijl and there were plenty of sharp tackles being made all over the pitch.
It took almost half an hour for the Reds to register a genuine attempt and the visitors were unlucky not to score following a beautiful move. Januzaj fed the overlapping Evans and his cross was touched back intelligently by Wilson for Andreas Pereira to shoot but the ball deflected off target.
There was a similar incident at the other end when skipper Thorpe diverted an attempt by Emmanuel Sonupe following some lapse defending before Wilson lifted a rising shot well over the bar. The half ended with Josh Harrop forced off after sustaining an injury when blocking a cross and with neither keeper having a real save to make.
Unfortunately, Wilson was also withdrawn at the break after picking up another knock on his return from injury, Liam Grimshaw taking his place, but it was revealed to be a scheduled change. Anders Lindegaard was tested soon after the restart by Oduwa but dived to push the ball away to his right. However, there were still precious few chances being created, although Dominic Ball almost headed a Saidy Janko cross into his own net.
Januzaj floated a free-kick disappointingly wide from just outside the box as the match remained goalless as it entered the closing stages. Another set-piece opportunity would not be wasted by Januzaj from out on the right flank after Harry Winks fouled Janko. A superb shot arrowed past McGee and into the top corner with three minutes left.
Spurs retaliated and Lindegaard's poor kick was returned with interest but Oduwa threw up an arm in his aerial challenge with the keeper and it looked a clear foul. Incredibly, the referee allowed play to continue and, as the Dane appealed, the home forward smashed into an empty net for the equaliser.
It would have destroyed lesser teams but Joyce's charges are always made of stern stuff and, after Januzaj's shot deflected wide for a corner, he took the kick himself to cross for captain Thorpe, who made his first-team debut on Saturday against West Ham United, to leap and power home a winner that takes the Reds to the top of the table.
United: Lindegaard; Janko, Thorpe, Vermijl, C.Evans; Pearson; A.Pereira, Harrop (Rothwell 45); Januzaj; Wilson (Grimshaw 46), W.Keane. Subs not used: O’Hara, Tuanzebe, Weir.