U21s: United 3 Sporting 2
Manchester United's Under-21s beat Sporting 3-2 in the Premier League International Cup.
A hat-trick from James Scanlon ensured victory for Tom Curtis's side, with our young Reds tested throughout by the Portuguese outfit.
Goals from Rafael Mota and Martim Peixoto made it a close contest in Leigh, but United did enough on a cold evening to earn another three points in the competition.
Scanlon sweeps home
📽️ GOAL CLIP | James Scanlon finds the bottom corner superbly, opening the scoring for our Under-21s, live on MUTV...
It took the Reds just eight minutes to go ahead, with Jayce Fitzgerald opening up a wonderful opportunity for Scanlon.
The United midfielder danced around the Sporting backline before finding the Gibraltar international in hauds of space, as he delightfully curled an effort into the back of the net.
The Lions hit back almost instantly, with Rayhan Momade's corner flicked on at the near post by Mota, who beat Will Murdock with his powerful header.
As the first half continued, Curtis's side were opening up plenty of space down the flanks, with Malachi Sharpe the next to go close.
His driving run into the box had to be saved by Miguel Gouveia, as our advances threatened to cause the visitors more problems.
Just five minutes before the break, our attacks were rewarded, with Scanlon scoring again.
Showing great balance and agility, the 19-year-old fired an effort that beat Gouveia as he dived to his left, nestling into the side-netting to restore our lead.
Jaydan Kamason was the next to go close as the second half began, with the full-back opting to go alone instead of playing in Scanlon, who was unmarked in the area.
But that didn't matter as we reached the final 15 minutes, with Scanlon completing a bring hat-trick, after the ball had fallen kindly to him.
Fitzgerald's scuffed cross initially broke the way of substitute Chido Obi, but Scanlon was on hand at the back post, firing home to make it 3-1.
Sporting made it interesting as they grabbed a goal back on 83 minutes, with Miguel Alves's long ball out from the back finding Peixoto.
The 18-year-old took his time before deciding where to put his effort. Eventually sliding home past Murdock, as tense final stages ensued.
Obi set-up Scanlon as we went in search of a fourth, but his low strike was blocked by Mota, as the game petered out and the Reds hung on.
United: Murdock; Kamason (Devaney 73), Munro (Aljofree 73), Fredricson, Leon (Watson 67); T.Fletcher, J.Fletcher; Sharpe (Obi 73), Fitzgerald, Scanlon; Biancheri.
Subs not used: Heath, Helafu.
Goals: Scanlon 8, 40, 76.