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Manchester United Under-21s faced their Chelsea counterparts on Friday night at Kingsmeadow in what was just their second game in 10 weeks.
Chelsea threatened early through Leo Castledine, who broke down the left wing and tried to play the ball over Elyh Harrison, but the goalkeeper managed to stick a leg out to send it wide for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Chelsea put the ball in the back of the net after a scramble, but it was quickly disallowed for offside.
Still in the first five minutes, Sam Mather pushed the ball for Ethan Wheatley and the striker stretched to tip it over, but the Chelsea goalkeeper got there first.
In the 28th minute, clear fouls on Shola Shoretire and Isak Hansen-Aaroen were ruled out, allowing Chelsea to counter-attack and Castledine forced Harrison into another good save.
But just a minute later, Harrison came to receive a cross and dropped the ball, allowing Chelsea’s Donnell McNeilly to hit the ball against the crossbar and bounce just over the line.
United had a chance to equalize before the break when Maxi Oyedele overcame a challenge on the right side to charge into the box and cut back for Sam Murray to strike, but a great save from Max Merrick kept the score at 0-1.
Chelsea then doubled their lead moments before the half-time whistle with McNeilly grabbing his second after controlling a low cross into the box and firing past Harrison.
A late injury to James Nolan led to the introduction of Toby Collyer and Ruben Curley also came into play at half-time for Maxi Oyedele.
Curley made an instant impact and distributed the play nicely to Mather, who cut to his right but couldn’t get enough bend in his effort to hit the target.
Curley then entered the area, passing Wheatley before recovering it and finding Shoretire, who fired home with his left foot.
Shola Shoretire’s first goal last night against Chelsea pic.twitter.com/YHJh6a5ZJe
– Manchester United Academy (@RedYouthUnited) January 13, 2024
Five minutes later, an incredible goal from Shoretire leveled the score as he lofted the ball before volleying past the goalkeeper.
Second from Shola Shoretire, an incredible volley that you haven’t seen better for a while. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/aeSj0ImDfK
– Manchester United Academy (@RedYouthUnited) January 13, 2024
It then looked like the match would end in a draw, but a crushing blow came in injury time when Tyrique George beat Rhys Bennett and crashed into the top right corner to win the game for Chelsea.
The defeat leaves United to remain in the middle of the table in 12th place out of 26 teams.
United: Harrison, Nolan (Collyer 45), Bennett, Aljofree, Murray, Huddlestone, Oyedele (Curley 46), Shoretire, Hansen-Aaroen (McNeill 79), Mather, Wheatley
Unused subs: I, McAllister
