Manchester United U21s 1 Manchester City EDS 2 - match report (27/01/2014)

Goals from Leigh and Glendon seal victory

FA U21 Premier League
27 January 2014

City: Lawlor, Drury, Leigh (Plummer), Facey, Denayer, Huws, Bytyqi, Fofana, Glendon, Cole (Ntcham)
Unused: O’Brien, Bossaerts, Byrne
Goals: Leigh, Glendon

City just like their younger U18s counter parts were on a long unbeaten run and United had just gone above City on just plus one goal difference after they got a point last week.  However when we saw the teamsheet we knew that United were fielding probably their strongest team possible and City without Pozo, Rusnak and now occasional first team player Marcos Lopes would have to show they were up for the contest. They did not disappoint as they harried every United pass and player to the point of mistakes and two well taken goals from Greg Leigh and George Glendon were enough to secure victory despite United’s best player Jesse Lingaard equalizing early in the second half.

United through Lingaard had the first real chance to take the lead but he fortunately struck straight at Ian Lawlor. City did not see that to go into their shell and pushed through United rather static players with ease and a free kick from the right was nearly volleyed in the corner of the goal by Leigh with his weaker right foot but the goalkeeper denied him with a fine save and behind for a corner. However Greg was not to be denied from that resulting corner as he made a great run on the near post and leapt to flick on a powerful header into the opposite corner of the goal.

City continued to look to extend their lead but their final ball was not the best and so did not really create any more clear cut chances. United on the other hand looked to play a long ball over the top at every opportunity and hit City on the break and so it was one of those breaks that saw a bit of a scramble going into the area that saw Lawlor make a fine save with his legs to deny David Petrucci an equalizer and they also missed a free header from Will Keane that went just wide from a deep cross from the right with the last action of the half.

As predicted it was that danger ball over the top on the break early in the second half that saw United gain a foothold back into the game with the pace of Lingaard being left to come in from the left and curl a neat low ball around Lawlor and into the corner of the goal.

City then pressed to re-take their lead when a powerful run down the left by Adam Drury where he ran into the area and powered the ball into the area where it was flicked on but no City player was able to connect near the far post.

City’s return to a winning position did not have to wait long however with a very good run down the left from Devante Cole and he ran into the area and down to the by-line where he pulled the ball back to the waiting Glendon who side footed a strong finish that deflected past the goalkeeper and into the back of the goal.

City continued to press and regained possession from United on numerous occasions but the killer pass or final ball was not its best from City and so they never really created another clear chance. It was good to see a late substitute introduction of Olivier Ntcham as he has struggled with injuries over the past few months. He indeed seemed to add a little more impetus to City with his fresh legs and made it very easy for City to see out full and Fergie time.