PREMIER LEAGUE 2 : MAN CITY 1 UNITED 1
Manchester United and neighbours City warmed up for the senior action with a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium at Premier League 2 level.
The Reds' Reserves went ahead in the first half through Matty Willock, soon after a tactical reshuffle by coach Warren Joyce, but the Blues levelled through substitute Brahim Diaz to ensure the spoils were shared.
Rodney Kongolo really should have put the hosts ahead when latching onto a miskick by Regan Poole and advancing towards Kieran O'Hara's goal in only the seventh minute. However, the Dutchman lifted his finish over O'Hara but also clear of the bar.
Lukas Nmecha was a box of tricks and he turned Axel Tuanzebe, only for the Reds skipper to deflect the striker's shot wide. Marcus Wood tested O'Hara's reflexes with a cross-shot but the keeper was not overly involved for all of City's superior possession.
Paolo Fernandes lashed a fierce drive off target before going off injured, after being hurt in an early collision with Willock, and United's first real attack to carry any genuine threat supplied the key moment of the half. Josh Harrop's pass fed Willock and, having just been moved further forward in a tactical switch that led to Scott McTominay vacating his centre-forward's role, the 20-year-old did the rest. A great solo run, including a clever dummy, set up a left-footed finish wide of Billy O'Brien.
United defended the lead manfully, while Javairo Dilrosun and Diaz produced efforts that flew well wide, and a counter-attack launched by Tuanzebe led to Demi Mitchell forcing a diving stop out of O'Brien, his first real save of the night. Only four minutes later, the Blues struck as Demaco Duhaney robbed Mitchell and ultimately claimed the assist as fellow substitute Diaz collected his pass and belted home a stunning finish.
Academy players Ethan Hamilton and DJ Buffonge entered the fray as United managed to spring forward sporadically in search of a winner. A magical build-up, starring Willock, left Harrop with a fantastic opportunity but the midfielder could not get his shot away and the chance was lost. Moments later, Dilrosun had a thumping drive pushed out by O'Hara at the other end.
In the closing stages, Diaz blazed over and Hamilton was flagged offside when he tried to latch onto a Buffonge through ball before a crucial save by O'Hara with his legs thwarted Diaz deep into stoppage time as there was no late addition to the scoreline with all the focus now switching to events between the clubs at Old Trafford on Saturday.
United : O'Hara; El Fitouri, Tuanzebe, Poole, Riley; Redmond, Willock; Scott (Buffonge 70), Harrop, Mitchell (Hamilton 65); McTominay (Dunne 94). Subs not used: Moutha-Sebtaoui, Doughty.
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