U21s: United v Leicester

A cagey first half came alive as the interval approached, with Noam Emeran handing United a 1-0 lead with a powerful finish from the edge of the box.

Having been booked in the first period, Willy Kambwala received a second yellow card at the start of the second, reducing the Reds to 10 men.

Leicester took advantage of the extra numbers, as Wanya Marcal-Madivadua finished from close range before Lewis Brunt made it 2-1 with a powerful free-kick.

Brunt had the opportunity to scored again late on after Sam Murray fouled Joseph Wormleighton in the box, but Radek Vitek successfully stopped his penalty.

Just when time seemed to be running out for the Reds, Emeran won a free-kick on the edge of the box and subsequently fired the set-piece beyond Leicester goalkeeper Brad Young, clinching a draw.

Chances were few and far between in the opening stages of the fixture, with United controlling the majority of possession and Leicester appearing content to sit back and absorb the early pressure.

The Foxes looked the most likely to score, with Marcal-Madivadua seeing a left-footed strike diverted off the line by Marc Jurado, before Christopher Popov got between the Reds' centre-backs and headed wide.

United responded through Emeran, who drilled a low cross across the six-yard box that no team-mate was able to get on the end of.

With 28 minutes on the clock, Leicester threatened once more. Following a late challenge by Kambwala on the edge of the box, which resulted in a booking for the United defender, Tawanda Maswanhise tried his luck from the free-kick, forcing Vitek to make a good save low to his right.

Jurado linked up superbly with Maximilian Oyedele soon after, fizzing in a low cross that was begging to be turned home by a player in red. From the resulting corner, Kambwala had a golden opportunity to open the scoring, but he got his feet all wrong and turned the ball over the crossbar from close range.

But moments later, United did take the lead. Emeran - who was a bright spark throughout the clash - picked up the ball outside the area and arrowed a fierce strike past Young and into the bottom corner.

The young Reds' no.11 almost added a second soon after, driving to the byline before being thwarted by Young from a tight angle, as United went in at the break with a one-goal lead.

At the beginning of the second half, Kambwala received a second yellow card after appearing to slip and trip a trialist for Leicester, reducing the Reds to 10 men.

The visitors looked to make the extra numbers pay, with Vitek being forced to get down low and save Marcal-Madivadua's attempt before denying Deniche Hill.

With 56 minutes on the clock, Leicester drew level. Maswanhise drove in a fast cross that found Marcal-Madivadua at the back post, and despite Murray thwarting his first effort with a block, the Foxes winger made no mistake with his second shot.

Leicester's numerical advantage was evident during the second half, and after Maswanhise was fouled by Dan Gore on the edge of the box, Brunt stepped up to give the Foxes the lead with a powerful free-kick.

The Reds responded and, after Emeran broke through on the counter-attack and found Omari Forson, the United substitute saw his shot blocked.

But when Murray fouled Wormleighton inside the box to hand the visitors a spot-kick, it seemed for all the world that Leicester were going to make it 3-1. However, Vitek guessed right to save Brunt's penalty, before pouncing on the follow-up to keep the Reds in the game.

With less than 10 minutes to go, Emeran came to United's rescue, firing an unstoppable free-kick over the wall and beyond Young, drawing the Reds level.

Despite being a man down, United looked the most likely to grab a winner in the dying moments, but stern defending and valiant blocks from the visitors ensured the spoils were shared.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Vitek; Jurado, Mengi (c), Kambwala, Hardley; Wellens (Forson 60), Oyedele (Gore 60); Emeran, Iqbal, Trialist (Murray 51); Hugill.

Sub not used: Mee, Collyer.

Goals: Emeran 37, 84 | Marcal-Madivadua 56, Brunt 64.

Red card: Kambwala 48.