Manchester United’s Under-21s took on local rivals Manchester City in Premier League 2 action earlier today in a desperate quest for victory.
The match started well with United taking an early lead in just the fourth minute. Isak Hansen-Aaroen’s corner was sent to the far post and headed by Bjorn Hardley for Rhys Bennett’s header from close range.
City pulled one back when Carlos Borges raced up Bennett’s back and Oscar Bobb put him past before passing the ball over Radek Vitek and into the bottom right corner.
Kobbie Mainoo and Hansen-Aaroen linked up on the left and created some space in the box for Mainoo to finish off an effort towards goal that was only prevented by a fantastic save to keep the score level until half-time.
Early in the second half, after a patient period of possession, Charlie McNeill fired a long-range shot just off the left post.
City struck at half-time with Adedire Mebude into acres of space on the right to lob a ball across the box for Borges to free-kick at the far post and give City the lead, prompting a United capitulation.
Another counter-attack from the wide pair, but this time in reverse, saw Borges run down the left and center towards Mebude to pass Teden Mengi and Bennett before slotting into the top left corner.
Returning on the counterattack, Kian Breckin ran down the middle before feeding Borges down the left to get past Vitek for his third of the match, which he celebrated by performing the new Ronaldo celebration.
Shortly after, a poor pass from Mengi at the back coughed up possession and then his failed attempt to make a tackle on William Dickson on recovery allowed the striker to toe under Vitek and run off to make another of Ronaldo’s signature celebrations to advance further. put salt in the wounds.
A blocked shot fell to Mebude from the right and the winger took care of Hardley before crossing into the area. He failed to clear and rebound before Borges smashed him into a six for City.
The final whistle came soon after to put United out of their misery. The loss leaves United 11th out of 14 with just one league win.
Speaking after the game, manager Mark Dempsey was disappointed after a good first half, saying “it hurts, it hurts all of us”.
Referring to United’s young team’s tendency to give away goals behind, Dempsey said “it’s unacceptable, I thought we had eradicated that but it seems we haven’t.”
United: Vitek, Jurado, Bennett, Mengi, Hardley, Savage, Iqbal, Forson (Emeran 80), Mainoo, Hansen-Aaroen, McNeill
Unused Subs: Harrison, Bernard, Huddlestone
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