UNDER-18S: MANCHESTER UNITED 2 STOKE CITY 0
Under-18 Premier League | Aon Training Complex | Scorers: Makela 26, Burkart 42
Faustin Makela and Nishan Burkart scored first-half goals as Manchester United's Under-18s recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over Stoke City at the Aon Training Complex on Saturday.
The match began at 11:00 BST and it therefore overran with the first-team’s lunch-time kick-off against Premier League champions Leicester City at Old Trafford. That meant the MUTV cameras were not live for the young Reds as usual, although that didn’t prevent them from performing admirably.
Kieran McKenna’s team made a bright start beneath overcast Carrington sky and had a chance to score in just the first minute when Burkart flashed a shot wide of the goalkeeper Mitchell Allen. Stoke then had an excellent opportunity of their own when Vazoumana Karamoko shot wide on 19 minutes.
U18s manager McKenna had named Makela in the starting XI for the first time this season and his faith was repaid as the youngster opened the scoring. Tanith Chong provided the assist with some brilliant work on the left wing and a cross that was headed home by his team-mate.
The Potters rallied and could have equalised when Venancio De Silva Monteiro (a former United player) ran through on goal against the goalkeeper Ilias Moutha-Sebtaoui on 31 minutes, but he was distracted by Chong’s excellent last-ditch challenge and the eventual shot was comfortably saved.
Then, just before the half-time break, United deservedly doubled the advantage through Burkart as he latched onto a flick from Angel Gomes to execute a fine finish that wrong-footed the goalkeeper.
The second half at the Aon Training Complex was a much quieter affair and neither side managed to score, although the Reds went closest with a double chance when Burkhart's initial shot led to exciting young talent Angel Gomes hitting the crossbar a moment later on 54 minutes.
Stoke had one opportunity to score when Da Silva did well to volley a cross at target. The Potters went on to finish the game with only 10 men after Rachid Balde suffered an injury - the visitors had already used their two outfield substitutes and had just a goalkeeper left on the bench.
United's U18s were worthy of the victory, keeping a first clean sheet of the season, and they are next in action against Middlesbrough at Rockcliffe Park on 1 October, when kick-off is scheduled for 12:30 BST.
United: Moutha-Sebtaoui, Tanner, Kenyon, Barrett, O’Connor, Whelan, Chong, Buffonge (Barlow 56), Burkart, Gomes, Makela (Bohui 71). Subs: Ercolani, Johnstone, Bohui, Barlow, Diedrick-Roberts.
Stoke: Allen, McJannett, Read, Silva, Vazoumania, Balde, Sorensen, Da Silva, Jokelainen, Twyford, Greenidge.
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