Manchester United’s under-21s were in the EFL Trophy action last night as they traveled to Bolton Wanderer’s ground for the round of 16 as one of three under-21 teams remaining in the competition.
United had an early chance on the counter-attack with some slick passing which ended with Joe Hugill playing through Shola Shoretire to fire from 12 yards forcing a scrambled clearance after the shot slipped under the keeper.
Bolton appeared to have scored from a corner soon after, but the assistant referee’s flag came to United’s rescue.
A cross from Isak Hansen-Aaroen found the head of Noam Emeran, who directed the ball into the top right corner that was deflected by the Bolton keeper.
In the second half, a huge mistake by Marc Jurado opened the scoring in the 68th minute when his header back to Nathan Bishop was too short, allowing Dapo Afolayan to run into a slot into an open net after rounding Bishop.
The first goal would open the floodgates as Bolton doubled their lead just eight minutes later.
A free kick from the left side of the box caught Bishop flat-footed as Aaron Morley curled the ball inside the near post.
A loose pass from Zidane Iqbal was the trigger for Bolton’s third late, launching a quick counter-attack. Amadou Bakayoko’s shot back was helped into the net by United substitute Sonny Aljofree.
Another United turnover in the dying seconds would give Bolton their fourth to seal the match.
Iqbal was unable to control Aljofree’s pass into midfield and Bolton were quick to attack and crossed to the back post for an easy flick from Conor Bradley.
The defeat saw United drop out of the competition, along with the other two remaining under-21 teams, Chelsea and Everton, who coincidentally also conceded four in their defeats.
United: Bishop, Murray, Hardley, Bernard (Aljofree 88), Jurado, Savage, Iqbal, Hansen-Aaroen (Collyer 69), Shoretire, Emeran, Hugill (McNeill 68)
Unused substitutes: Kambwala, Mastny, Oyedele, Norkett
