Quote:
U18 Premier League Elite Phase
Palace Training Ground, Beckenham
CRYSTAL PALACE 1
(Allassani 26)
MANCHESTER UNITED 2
(Ioannou 7, Pearson 72)
|
20/04/2013 - ManUtd.com, Adam Marshall
U18s: Palace 1 United 2
Manchester United's Under-18s collected a vital victory at Crystal Palace with Nicholas Ioannou and Ben Pearson on the scoresheet.
Both sides saw penalties saved as Paul McGuinness' youngsters shaded an entertaining encounter and, after the surprise 3-0 midweek defeat to Everton, it was important that the visitors got back on track against the bottom team.
The Reds made the perfect start when a well-worked corner allowed Ioannou to convert a close-range header with only seven minutes gone. Palace were fortunate not to fall further behind when Tom King saved a Sam Byrne shot and the rebound deflected off Kiran Khindra John and clipped the woodwork.
Byrne then had a goal ruled out for offside and the hosts emerged as an attacking force themselves. Reise Allassani fired wide from a Javen Palmer pass but hit the target with his next opportunity to level the scores. Allassani robbed Paddy McNair and slotted past Pierluigi Gollini with the aid of a slight deflection.
Palmer had a couple of attempts either side of a golden opportunity that was spurned by James Wilson but United finished the half on top. King made a good stop to deny Wilson from a tight angle and the speedy striker crossed well only for Byrne to get his finish all wrong from an unmarked position.
The chances kept coming thick and fast after the restart with Byrne blazing over a volley when a goal seemed certain and forcing a smart stop out of King. There was drama in the 55th minute when a penalty was harshly awarded against Luke Croll when the ball bounced against his arm. Wilson's spot kick was superbly saved by King to keep the score at 1-1.
The Eagles then went close with Jon Williams denied by Gollini and Ioannou making a vital block on the line to keep out Derek Tieku's effort. Mats Daehli and Andreas Pereira went close before United edged ahead again. Pereira's free-kick was pushed out by King and Pearson pounced from close range to ram in the rebound.
However, the joy was short-lived as, six minutes later, Gollini was adjudged to have pulled down Jake Gray and another spot-kick was awarded. For a second time, the goalkeeper came out on top as Gollini atoned by making a brilliant save to deny Allassani from 12 yards.
Wilson almost wrapped up the success late on when his shot cannoned off the bar while Croll's free-kick was wide at the other end as this was a much-needed win in terms of the battle for a semi-final place.
United: Gollini; Love, McNair, Ioannou, Evans; Pereira, Grimshaw, Pearson, Daehli; Byrne, Wilson. Subs not used: Rudge, Sutherland, Barmby, Willock, Fletcher.