Under-21s: Leeds 2 United 2

Manchester United roared back from a two-goal deficit at the break to earn a 2-2 draw against Leeds United in Premier League 2.

Leeds survived a couple of late goalmouth scares as both sides took a point at Thorp Arch, in the live MUTV encounter.

Mather’s corner was headed against the bar by Victor Musa and, although Amir Ibragimov pounced to net the rebound, he was ruled offside.

In the 28th minute, the hosts scored out of nothing when James Debayo fired a ball out to Connor Douglas and his pass back to Alfie Cresswell led to the home skipper hoisting it into the danger area. Catching on the wind, it swirled against the underside of the bar and into Byrne-Hughes’s net.

Four minutes later, an excellent move led to Harry Gray, younger brother of Tottenham Hotspur’s Archie, stealing in to produce a slick finish. It was the striker’s last involvement of the afternoon, due to injury, but his side thought they had a third when Rhys Chadwick’s corner was blown straight in. However, a foul was called on Byrne-Hughes during the scrimmaging inside the six-yard box.

With the wind now providing assistance to the Reds, the second half was largely all United. Mather shot over from distance before he and Moorhouse were crowded out before getting their efforts away. Although Byrne-Hughes had to deny Sam Chambers, the visitors continued to carry most of the threat.

Mather’s exquisite touch to a long ball by Mills put him through on goal but he hit a post with his finish, when confronted by keeper Mahady. Musa headed over and saw an attempt blocked by the Leeds trialist before a goal finally arrived in the 67th minute.

After a number of corners, one was only half cleared to Kone, who produced a textbook left-volley flew that flew past Mahady. It provided a real shot of adrenaline to United with Moorhouse soon testing Mahady again, and Mather firing narrowly off target from the rebound. Then Kone played a one-two with Musa, only to be flattened by Diogo Monteiro inside the area. It was a clear penalty and Mather calmly struck it down the middle, after a little delay, to level the scores at 2-2.

While Leeds did spark back into life, it was United who looked likeliest to grab a winner. Ibragimov picked up a James Bailey pass and his devilish cross was inches away from Musa and Jayden Ngwashi, sliding in at the far post. There was still time for another Ibragimov cross to eventually lead to Zach Baumann having a shot cleared off the line by Cresswell, with Ngwashi unable to convert the loose ball.

So a point apiece was the outcome in difficult conditions after a decent game across the Pennines.

United: Byrne-Hughes; Ogunneye, Mills, Fredricson (c), Murray; Ibragimov, Kone, Moorhouse (Bailey 84); Overy (Baumann 60), Musa, Mather (Ngwashi 73).

Substitutes not used: Myles, Rowe.

Goals: Kone 67, Mather 70 (pen) | Cresswell 28, Gray 32.