Manchester United’s under-18 side were at Derby County on Saturday morning in league action as they looked to continue their run in the title race.
The first chance of the match came to United with a corner kick that was sent deep to Jack Kingdon at the far post for James Scanlon to clumsily catch up from behind and head it towards goal, only to see his effort blocked.
At the other end, a low drive from 20 yards was the first test for Elyh Harrison, as she palmed the ball away to its full length, then rose quickly off the ground to stifle the rebound.
However, a minute later, Dajaune Brown gave Derby the lead after a poor pass back from Shea Lacey saw Brown go straight in to clip his left boot and pass Harrison.
Lacey looked to make amends soon after, cutting from the right side and shooting towards the back post, prompting the keeper to blast him for a corner.
Approaching the half-hour mark, a collision between Harrison and Brown left the goalkeeper down, eventually forcing his replacement by under-16 Will Murdock.
In the 38th minute, Brown was a danger again as he ran from behind and hit Murdock, but a recovering Sam Murray was there to clear. This kept the score 1-0 before the break.
In the second half, Derby’s impressive left-back Riley Maloney played down the left and tried to get past Murdock, who scrambled to make the save.
Ethan Williams beat his man to the baseline and struck low into a congested box, but the keeper was the first to do so, dodging Jayce Fitzgerald to hit over the bar.
In the 74th minute, VÃctor Musa finished off from behind and beat the goalkeeper with a touch, but the striker could not secure his feet to finish off and the opportunity vanished.
A few minutes later, Murray flicked the ball down the left channel for Williams to run up behind and square off against Spaniard Musa for a simple touch.
VÃctor Musa with the equalizing goal! 1-1 pic.twitter.com/Osh8Uhr8FX
— utdreport academy (@utdreportAcad) February 4, 2023
United chased a winner in the closing stages but could not find the breakthrough, leaving them settling for just one point which leaves them in third place. United: Harrison (Murdock 31), Nolan, Kingdon, Jackson, Murray, Fitzgerald, Berry, Lacey, Scanlon (Munro 61), Musa
Unused Subs: Kaba
