Quote:
Premier Academy League
Carrington, Sat 23 Jan 2010
MANCHESTER UNITED 3
Ajose 63 (pen), Cofie 81, Hussain 86
STOKE CITY 2
Nichols, Brown (og)
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23/01/2010 13:11 - ManUtd.com, Ben Hibbs
U18s: United 3 Stoke 2
United's Under-18s staged an astonishing comeback to beat Stoke City 3-2 at Carrington, with two goals in the last nine minutes securing a satisfying victory.
The Reds were behind in the 13th minute and then slipped to a 2-0 deficit just after the break. But a superb turnaround in the quality of performance led to Nicky Ajose, John Cofie and Etzaz Hussain providing the goals for a spirited fightback.
Paul McGuinness was able to select Reece Brown, Zeki Fryers and Etzaz Hussain after lengthy spells on the sidelines. But the U18s coach clearly had one eye on Thursday's FA Youth Cup fifth round tie with Blackburn Rovers as he named key men Will Keane and Paul Pogba on the bench.
United started well but a collison between goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and defender Scott Wootton, which left the Reds stopper understandably shaken, seemed to knock the home side out of their stride. While there were no visible side effects to Johnstone's performance after a nasty fall, he was unable to keep out Andy Nichols' looping header on 13 minutes.
It was a scrappy half with the rhythm and attacking potency of United's recent display in the 5-1 FA Youth Cup win over Burnley sadly lacking. But the introduction of influential midfielder Pogba at half-time made a huge difference.
However, again despite a promising start, Stoke struck once more to dampen United spirits. A dangerous cross came in from the right and Brown headed into his own net.
It wasn't until after the hour mark that United's courageous comeback began. The breakthrough arrived when Ajose was fouled in the box, dusting himself down before coolly converting the kick.
United went close on several occasions but, heading into the last ten minutes, the young Reds were still desperately seeking an equaliser. Thankfully it arrived on 81 minutes. The impressive Ryan Tunnicliffe had a shot parried and England youth international Cofie tapped home from close range.
A draw looked like a good result under the circumstances, but United weren't finished there. Excellent wing play from Ajose created space inside the six-yard box for Norwegian midfielder Hussain to poke the ball into the net.
United's players were rightly ecstatic at the victory, and it is a huge confidence boost ahead of Thursday's Youth Cup tie with Rovers at Ewood Park.
United: Johnstone; Brown, Fyrers (Massacci 73), Wootton, McGinty; Ajose, Tunnicliffe, Petrucci (Pogba 46), Cole, Hussain; Cofie.
Sub not used: W.Keane, Giverin