Manchester United's Under-21s secured a first win of this season's National League Cup group stages with a deserved victory over Rochdale on Tuesday night.
Chido Obi's 11th-minute goal is all that could separate the two sides until the very end of a rainy Greater Manchester night at the Crown Oil Arena. James Scanlon netted a second for the young Reds in added time.
It means United have one win from our opening two games, with meetings with
A poignant minute’s silence was held in memory of the father of Rhys Bennett, David, who passed away over the weekend. United’s players wore black armbands.
A scrappy first half followed, punctuated by one moment of intensity and quality, when Jim Thwaites earned high reward for pressure on the edge of the area. The young midfielder won possession, flicked it nicely to team-mate Chido Obi, who finished calmly past Rochdale goalkeeper Tom Myles, formerly of United’s Academy.
The tempo of the game only ramped up in rare moments from then on. James Scanlon showed lovely wing play when dinking an aerial ball over his marker, driving forward and forcing a good block from Liam Hogan. Bendito Mantato took down a crossfield ball impressively before showing an unpredictable ability to change the pace, then crossing well. When Mantato’s ball was headed clear, Diego Leon shot over from range.
Mantato later had a shot of his own saved by Myles, after cutting inside onto his left foot, but United were unable to double our lead before the break.
United shot-stopper Will Murdock made his first save shortly after the restart, though only from a weak shot, and it was the young Reds who then enjoyed the chances again. Jayce Fitzgerald fizzed an outside-of-the-box shot over the crossbar and Overy and Obi both had efforts saved by Myles, but it’s fair to say chances were at a premium for both sides.
Rochdale did have a fantastic chance late on when, with Ian Henderson waiting in the middle, Levi Amantchi shot well over. Instead, United doubled the advantage in the final seconds of added time, when James Scanlon converted into the bottom right corner and wrap up the three points. A loose Rochdale pass had fallen kindly to substitute Victor Musa, who found Scanlon well.
MATCH DETAILS
United XI: Murdock; Overy, Devaney (c) (Mills 60), Kukonki, Leon (Musa 60); McAllister (T. Fletcher 72), Fitzgerald, Thwaites (J. Fletcher 72); Mantato, Scanlon, Obi (Biancheri 82).
Unused subs: Heath; Armer.
Goals: Obi 11, Scanlon 90+3.