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Old 22-01-2017, 12:38 AM   #25
Andi Istiabudi
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Default Re: Man United U-18 Matches 2016/17



UNDER-18S: MANCHESTER UNITED 1 EVERTON 1

Under-18 Premier League | Aon Training Complex | Scorers: Gomes 20; Ball 68

Manchester United's Under-18s were denied victory in the team's first league fixture of 2017 as Everton recovered from conceding a stunning Angel Gomes goal to take home a point through Charlie Ball's second-half equaliser.

The Reds missed a golden opportunity to go 2-0 up shortly after the break when Gomes's penalty was saved by Toffees goalkeeper Ben Pierce but the eventual 1-1 draw was nevertheless not a bad result when the visitors' superior match fitness is taken into account.

Everton arrived at the Aon Training Complex with two competitive games under their belts in January - last weekend's derby defeat and their midweek FA Youth Cup exit at Preston - whereas Kieran McKenna's United squad had not played an eleven-a-side fixture since winning at West Bromwich Albion on 17 December.

The young Reds were fresher for the first half though and with a spring in their step after winning a five-a-side tournament in Germany earlier this month. One of the stars of that success, Tahith Chong, presented a threat to Everton that was met with some exuberant resistance.

Strong challenges from Toffees left-back Luke Moore twice left the former Feyenoord youngster needing a lengthy spell of treatment during the first half. The right-sided midfielder recovered from the first one swiftly enough to race down the opposite flank, United's left, and pull back a sumptuous ball that deserved to be swept home but was instead steered to safety by Everton.

The breakthrough came in the Reds' next attack, in the 20th minute, when the lively DJ Buffonge received George Tanner's short throw-in on the right, twisted past his marker and slid a ball into the feet of Angel Gomes on the edge of the area. The no.10 still had a bit to do to make the space for a shot and he did just that by jinking to his right before lashing an unstoppable strike in off the crossbar.

It was Gomes's 10th league goal of the season and arguably his best so far, although a compilation of them all will doubtless turn that into an interesting debate on MUTV and ManUtd.com.

The creator of United's exquisite goal had a go at scoring one himself just before the half-hour mark but Buffonge's effort, after surging forward from the centre circle, took a slight deflection and the relieved Everton goalkeeper Pierce watched it whistle past his right-hand post.

Having gamely soldiered on, Chong reluctantly left the field in the 34th minute with Aidan Barlow coming on in his place. The unforced change failed to disrupt United however and the Reds almost doubled the advantage when central striker Josh Bohui headed over from Tanner's right-wing cross.

At the other end, Everton's left winger Danny Bramall crossed into the six-yard box where it was volleyed over by a team-mate and later drew a foul that had United defender Jake Kenyon entering the book.

Barlow had a curling shot saved by Pierce but the momentum at the tail end of the first half was otherwise with the visitors. Fortunately for the Reds, Everton's injury-time setpieces found centre-backs Lee O'Connor and Tyrell Warren on full alert as they headed clear.

That period was a sign of the shift to come in the balance of play and Merseyside's Blues began the second half by almost equalising, straight from the restart. A great cross reached Fraser Hornby inside the six-yard box but the no.10's first touch was too heavy and enabled United goalkeeper Alex Fojticek to smother the ball at the near post.

Everton were almost punished for that failure when Pierce brought down Reds striker Josh Bohui in the box but although the Everton shot-stopper was booked, he had the last laugh by diving to his left and pushing away Gomes's 52nd-minute penalty.

The Toffees had raised their general tempo with Bramall in particular running at the Reds' rearguard but the game had briefly slowed to a walking pace when Alex Denny rolled a decisive pass forward through midfield to Charlie Ball. The substitute, who shares his surname with one of Everton's greatest-ever players Alan Ball, turned inside O'Connor and planted a left-footed shot beyond the diving Fojticek.

Scored in the 68th minute, Ball's effort proved to be enough to secure an away draw for his side, despite United substitute Zak Dearnley coming on to deliver some decent crosses into the area.

Everton's hard-earned point was almost snatched away from them deep into stoppage time, however, when Kenyon fired a great ball in from the left wing but Buffonge was unable to get his volley on target and this entertaining affair ended all-square.

United: Fojtíček; Tanner, Warren, O’Connor, Kenyon; Whelan, Buffonge; Chong (Barlow 34), Gomes, Boonen (Dearnley 69); Bohui (Burkart 78). Subs not used: M. Johnstone, Hamilton.

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