Re: United Reserve Matches
Report
United started the first game on one of the minor pitches at 10:20 against Vitesse Arnhem, one of the stronger teams in the tournament. The games are only 35 minutes in duration with no half time, so Solskjaer started what is probably what is his most experienced side.
In a tough, scrappy game, United scored early and Corry Evans gave us the lead after only 6 minutes. From then on the contest was fairly even but we had more of the play and were deserved winners. We played 451 with Brandy up front watched by a small crowd of 114.
Team against Vitesse Arnhem
1. Heaton
2. Simpson
3. Dudgeon
4. Chester (capt)
5. De Laet
6. Evans
7. Stewart
16. James
9. Brandy
10. Eikrem
11. Brady
8. Hewson (10) on '27
12. Gill
13. Zieler
14. Norwood (11) on '27
15. Wootton
17. Brown (7) on '29
18. Ajose (9) on '29
19. Buckingham
The second game started 15 minutes later and obviously the team and a completely different look, with most of the subs in the first game starting against BVCB, who were much lower quality than Vitesse.
The game was played on the main pitch which is synthetic, and although we do have artificial pitches at Carrington it was interesting to see how the Reds would cope with a slightly different game. I shouldn't have worried.......Cam Stewart gave us the lead on 7 minutes when he ran on to a through ball by Ajose and placed the ball calmly past the keeper into the bottom left hand corner. Scott Wootton made in 2-0 on 12 minutes when he scored with a glancing header from 12 yards into the top right hand corner from a Stewart corner. A much larger crowd of 327 were delighted when United made it 3-0 on 15 minutes. Stewart was having a good game and ran onto a through ball by Ollie Norwood. He raced towards goal before squaring it to Ajose who calmly slotted it into an empty net.
With the game virtually won, Ian Buckingham came on after the goal for Cam Stewart. Eikrem then missed an open goal from four yards and got into a bit of a slanging match with one of their defenders. He must of said something as he was immediately substituted. Then on 32 minutes the bench went crazy! Hewson was upended in the area and we were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Buckingham who drove the ball hard into the bottom right hand corner giving the keeper no chance. The management and subs were in stitches as Ian turned to celebrate.
The game finished 4-0 to the Reds who lined up again in a 451 formation with Ajose the lone striker, and we must now be one of the favourites for the competition.
Team against BVCB
13. Zieler
17. Brown
3. Dudgeon
12. Gill
15. Wootton
7. Stewart
8. Hewson (capt)
14. Norwood
10. Eikrem
11. Brady
18. Ajose
1. Heaton
2. Simpson
4. Chester (11) on '20
5. De Laet
6. Evans
9. Brandy
16. James (10) on '22
19. Buckingham (7) on '16
The Reds then faced a very strong NEC side with first team players listed on their team sheet. United lined up in last season's kit of white shirts and blue shorts. However, Febian Brandy wore the Number 20 shirt as the Number 9 jersey had been ripped to shreds in the match versus Katwijk on Thursday. United had a back four of Simpson, Chester, De Laet and Gill, with Stewart and Dudgeon playing out wide. Hewson, James and Evans were the middle three with Brandy again the lone striker.
Starting on the outside grass pitch, the opening ten minutes saw NEC over-power United in most areas. They were a strong physical side and went ahead early in the game when one of their forwards lobbed Zieler from the edge of the area. After 17 minutes, Eikrem came on to replace Gill and De Laet moved from centre-half to left back. Corry Evans moved from midfield to central defence and Magnus took the central midfield role.
It was a sign of good tactical awareness by Solskjaer and Joyce, as Eikrem started to get a grip on midfield and Evans strengthened the defence. Eikrem nearly scored with his first touch, forcing a great save from the keeper with a free kick. Cam Stewart was again doing well on the right, while Brandy was continually busy up front and pressurising the NEC defence.
Then on 24 minutes, United drew level when Ritchie De Laet scored with a header at the far post from another Eikrem fee-kick. For the remainder of the game it was pretty even with a 1-1 draw being a fair result.
Team against NEC Nijmegen
13. Zieler
2. Simpson
12. Gill
4. Chester (capt)
5. De Laet
6. Evans
7. Stewart
8. Hewson
16. James
3. Dudgeon
9. Brandy
1. Heaton
10. Eikrem (12) on '17
11. Brady
14. Norwood
15. Wootton
17. Brown
18. Ajose
19. Buckingham[/b]
United's reserves reached the final of the Wout van Overdam Youth Tournament with an impressive 2-0 victory over Sparta Rotterdam, who featured players with first team experience.
With Robbie Brady injured, United played Joe Dudgeon on the left and teh back four were Brown, Chester, De Laet and Simpson. Stewart was again wide right, Evans, James and Eikrem in the middle with Febian up front.
It was a tight opening ten minutes with United not giving anything away and the only shot of note was a 30 yard effort from Corry Evans which was easy for the keeper to collect. It remained fairly even for the first twenty minutes and then United upped the tempo. Sam Hewson replaced Reece Brown so Simpson went to right back, Dudgeon to left back, and Magnus went wide left.
In the 24th minute the 461 crowd saw a clear penalty decision turned down as Brandy went down in the box. Whatever frustration he felt was soon forgotten as Febian scored a cracking solo goal two minutes later. Receiving the ball from Dudgeon on the edge of the area, he spun past one defender, burst in between another two and slotted the ball under the keeper to give United a deserved lead. On the half hour mark, Gill came on to replace Stewart and went to outside left with Eikrem switching wings.
Then on 33 minutes, Danny Simpson released Magnus on the right and he raced down the wing before knocking a great ball to the far post. Oliver Gill met the ball and headed it back for the on-rushing Matty James to hit it with his left foot. The Sparta keeper made a great save but James scored from the rebound to give United a 2-0 lead.
Brandy and Eikrem were immediately replaced by Ajose and Norwood for the last two minutes. As Brandy was coming off the pitch he was berated in no uncertain terms by Warren Joyce for lashing out at a Sparta defender a few minutes earlier. Brandy received strong words from the referee but no card was shown. If Brandy picked up a booking he would have missed the final, and as our only forward, the coaching staff were not too happy with his impetuosity.
Regardless of his 'mad moment', Brandy was easily the Man of the Match, working his socks off and causing the Sparta defence loads of problems.
The game finished 2-0 to the Reds and the final table looked like this:
1. Manchester United - Played 4 Won 3 Drew 1 Lost 0 GF 8 GA 1 Points 10
2. Sparta Rotterdam - Played 4 Won 2 Drew 1 Lost 1 GF 6 GA 3 Points 7
3. Vitesse Arnhem - Played 4 Won 2 Drew 0 Lost 2 GF 3 GA 3 Points 6
4. NEC Nijmegen - Played 4 Won 1 Drew 3 Lost 0 GF 7 GA 2 Points 5
5. BVCB - Played 4 Won 0 Drew 0 Lost 4 GF 1 GA 16 Points 0
It was hard on NEC who were one of the better teams in the tournament, but they, like United were in the toughest groups, and their three draws cost them.
United now face Groningen in the final.
Team against Sparta Rotterdam
1. Heaton
17. Brown
2. Simpson
4. Chester (capt)
5. De Laet
6. Evans
7. Stewart
16. James
10. Eikrem
3. Dudgeon
9. Brandy (wore 20 shirt)
8. Hewson (17) on '23
11. Brady
12. Gill (7) on '30
13. Zieler
14. Norwood (10) on '33
15. Wootton
18. Ajose (20) on '33
19. Buckingham
source redcafe post by Mr MUJAC
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