Full Time : ManUtd U18 1 - 1 ManCity U18
United began the game brightly moving the ball around quickly and accurately in the opening minutes with Tosin Kehinde particularly bright as he kept the ball in tight spaces on a couple of occasions. Despite United having more of the possession City looked dangerous every time they came forward with Diaz looking lively down the left-wing and providing a couple of dangerous balls into the box which United did well to deal with. The first chance of the game came in the 15th minute as United lost the ball too easily on the edge of the box which was seized upon by Nmecha who fired over with the aid of a touch off the top of the crossbar.
City were taking over more as the game wore on and went close again as a short corner was played to Diaz who cut into the box and fired a powerful shot which was well pushed wide by Byrne in the 19th minute. Oliver Byrne had to be on guard again a couple of minutes later as he pushed away a near post shot from Nemane. United were looking disjointed as they struggled to put any real moves together as a team despite a number of players doing well individually. There was a double shout for a City penalty in the 34th minute as Tyrell Warren challenged Nmecha in the box before having the ball fired against him arm although its debatable how much he knew about it.
It was easy to see why City have the best defensive record in the league as they pressed well as a team and denied United any space to play in as it took United until the 39th minute to have their first shot on target as Callum Gribbin’s 25-yard effort was easily held by the City keeper. City took the lead their dominance deserved as Gribbin’s pass put Scott under pressure and the ball found its way to Nmecha who twisted his way past Dunne before firing past Byrne to make it 1-0 in the 42nd minute. United went in at trailing at half time after a half where City created all the chances.
The second half began in a similar vain to how the first had ended with City seeing more of the ball and United struggling to find an outlet when they did get on the ball. City went close to extending their lead in the 52nd as a corner found its way to Kongolo at the back post but Byrne was again on hand to push the ball away before City again went close in the 55th minute with Nmecha back heeling the ball onto the post after good work down the right by Diaz. It was becoming a game of attack versus defence as City peppered United’s goal with shots and United couldn’t get any foothold in the game.
In the 64th minute United equalised completely against the run of play as DJ Buffonge’s pass Zachary Dearnley who found Warren bursting into the box and when his effort was pushed away Callum Whelan was on hand to sweep home the rebound to make it 1-1. United immediately made a double change with Thomas Sang and Aidan Barlow replacing Kenyon and Buffonge. City were close to retaking the lead in the 69th minute as Nemane’s cross found Nmecha but he was brilliantly denied by Byrne who stuck out a foot to deflect the close range effort wide.
The introduction of Barlow helped United to raise their game is he worked tirelessly to close down the City players and forced them into mistakes on a number of occasions and also showed his ability on the ball as he drove forward at every opportunity. United did well to deny City any chances in the closing stages with Warren particularly impressive making a number of important challenges and even carrying the ball forward well to take off some of the pressure. United showed their battling spirit to see out a 1-1 draw in a game where they were under a lot of pressure for long spells.
Manchester United: Byrne; Reid, Warren, Dunne, Kenyon (Sang 65′); Scott, Whelan; Dearnley, Gribbin (Tanner 82′), Kehinde; Buffonge (Barlow 65′)
Substitutes not used: Moutha-Sebtaoui, Diedrick-Roberts
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