UNDER-18S: UNITED 2 MAN CITY 2
Under-18 Premier League | Aon Training Complex | Scorers: Gribbin 45, Buffonge 81 | Diaz 74, Foden 84
Manchester United and Manchester City fought out an entertaining mini-derby with a 2-2 draw meaning the visitors maintain their unbeaten record.
The two top sides in the northern division went toe to toe with Callum Gribbin and DJ Buffonge scoring for Kieran McKenna's team, only for Brahim Diaz and Phil Foden to reply. Gribbin also missed a second-half penalty.
The Blues hit the outside of a post in the sixth minute through Tom Dele-Bashiru at the second attempt after he sliced his initial effort. Good work from Gribbin and Tahith Chong almost carved out a near-post opening for striker Joshua Bohui and Tyrell Warren's tackle enabled Buffonge to lash a decent drive just over the top.
Lukas Nmecha missed his kick from an opportunity for the visitors as an absorbing encounter unfolded at the Aon Training Complex with both teams working hard to unsettle well-organised defences. The game certainly opened up as the first half drew to a close with the Reds making the all-important breakthrough.
Gribbin collected a return pass from Buffonge in the closing stages of the half, expertly feinted to move into space and bent an inch-perfect finish wide of Pawel Sokol with his weaker right foot. It was a moment of class from the midfielder but City should have replied instantly in the third minute of stoppage time when Edward Francis teed up Joe Latibeaudier but the skipper prodded wide of an inviting target.
Full-backs George Tanner and Lee O'Connor switched flanks at the start of the second period and Tanner tested Sokol when his shot skipped in front of the Polish keeper but City also worked Ilias Moutha-Sebtaoui through the tricky Diaz.
The Blues hit the woodwork for a second time when Diaz's 58th-minute drive almost capped a good spell for Lee Carsley's side, after he was fed by substitute Jadon Sancho. Moutha-Sebtaoui kept out Sancho at the near post after he dribbled past O'Connor while Diaz was off target as the pressure mounted.
Out of nothing, Sokol was booked for conceding a penalty as Bohui tried to reach an O'Connor punt forward in the 70th minute but, unfortunately, Gribbin sent the spot-kick over the bar. It was a reprieve for City who soon levelled, Diaz snaking his way into the box and going through challenges by Warren and Ro-Shaun Williams to stab in.
United hit back with Buffonge breaking at speed to feed Bohui. The former Brentford forward managed to get the ball over at the second time of asking and Buffong did a swallow dive to nod past Sokol with nine minutes left to register his sixth goal of the season.
Three minutes later, Sancho again powered down the left with O'Connor seemingly injured and unable to keep pace. Callum Whelan was also bypassed by the winger and, when the ball came back off Moutha-Sebtaoui, Foden lifted the rebound high into the net for another equaliser.
The Blues had the best opportunity to win it but Moutha-Sebtaoui denied Nmecha after he was slipped through by Sancho and a draw was a fair result after a thrilling encounter.
United: Moutha-Sebtaoui; Tanner, Warren, Williams, O’Connor (Burkart 85); Whelan, Buffonge; Gribbin (Barlow 78), Gomes, Chong (Hamilton 68); Bohui.
Subs not used: Fojticek, Dunne.
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