Manchester United Under-21s' season concluded on Friday evening with a 2-0 play-off semi-final defeat to Manchester City in Premier League 2.
The young Reds went behind 66 minutes in at the Joie Stadium, when Divin Mubama’s header found the bottom right corner.
United pushed for an equaliser in an even and fast-paced game, but couldn’t overturn the one-goal deficit. Instead, Mubama's clever 90th-minute back-heel doubled the hosts' advantage, securing City's spot in the PL2 final.
Travis Binnion’s side had finished fifth in the regular season before knock-out victories over West Ham and Everton at Leigh Sports Village.
There’s now only one competitive game remaining for our Professional Development Phase (U17-U21) players. The Under-18s host Sunderland at Carrington on Saturday (12:00 BST), and you can watch live on MUTV.
The squad will continue to provide valuable support to Ruben Amorim’s senior set-up, however, with Harry Amass, Bendito Mantato, Jaydan Kamason and Tyler Fredricson all included in Thursday’s matchday squad for the UEFA Europa League win over Athletic Club.
Having stolen yards at the kick-off, City were nearly in on goal within the opening minute, earning a corner from which Jaden Heskey swiped a shot wide of the left post.
United responded, setting the tone for a fast-moving first half. After good play by Ethan Wheatley, Ethan Williams provided a dangerous left-wing ball across the box, but it sailed through without the necessary finishing touch. When Habeeb Ogunneye provided a similar cross from the right soon after, City blocked.
Both sides regularly opted for a similar route forward: quick, early balls over the top to two imposing and lively strikers, Wheatley for United and Divin Mubama for the hosts.
When Williams fizzed one into Wheatley after a City corner 16 minutes in, the United man controlled, turned his man before a fantastic driving run to the edge of the Blues’ area. The corner he earned unfortunately came to nothing, but the pace was quick at both ends. Mubama slipped under pressure from two recovering Reds before he could shoot at Elyh Harrison’s goal, before the impressive Sekou Kone earned a United corner at the other end.
The play rarely stopped before the break, with few fouls and only a couple of set-pieces. Sam Murray denied Mubama another opportunity with a strong block before the City no.9 shot wide of the right post. A minute later, Wheatley showed fast footwork on the area’s edge before dragging his effort beyond the left post.
United began the second period with intensity and could have led. Wheatley won the ball high up but couldn’t get beyond a three-man block to find James Scanlon across the box. Tyler Fletcher followed his team-mate’s example to earn possession in the final third before producing an out-swinging cross from which Wheatley headed over.
Fletcher himself then shot wide of the left post shortly after.
City weathered that dominant five-minute period and began carving out their own opportunities. Mubama head over the bar and then couldn’t quite turn Heskey’s header into the net at the far left post.
At the third time of asking since the break, Mubama came up good, heading across goal into the bottom right corner from Lakyle Samuel’s floated cross.
United came back off the ropes to regain a foothold but Kone’s long-range strike couldn’t test Spike Brits and City remained compact in defence, limiting chances within the box.
City attempted to capitalise on a tiring Reds side on the counter-attack but substitute Reigan Heskey's right-footed curler went beyond the post. Eventually, Charlie Gray combined well with Heskey to tee up Mubama, who back-heeled cleverly to double his and City's tally and finish the game off.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Harrison; Ogunneye (Rowe 86), Jackson, Kukonki, Murray; Devaney (J. Fletcher 70), T. Fletcher, Kone; Scanlon, Wheatley, Williams (Biancheri 60).
Subs: Murdock; Munro.
Goals: Mubama 66, 90.