U21s: Rochdale 0 United 1
Manchester United retained top spot in Group B of the National League Cup with a third consecutive victory in the competition, thanks to Amir Ibragimov’s excellent 82nd-minute strike.
Travis Binnion’s side had dominated periods of the match but were unable to convert the few clear-cut chances that came our way, until space opened up for Ibragimov to shoot from the area’s edge.
United are in an excellent position going into our final group-stage game in late January, at Oldham Athletic. With nine points from three games, Binnion’s charges know a good result at Boundary Park will seal passage into the knockout stages.
A Rochdale counter-attack forced United into action after a slow start, with Dermot Mee’s strong save one-on-one keeping the scores level.
United hit back soon after when Ethan Wheatley was denied by Rochdale goalkeeper Brad Kelly. Jack Moorhouse then watched his powerful edge-of-the-box effort well blocked before Wheatley flicked Ethan Ennis’s left-wing delivery into Kelly’s hands. Another effort from United’s no.9, this time for the area’s edge, travelled past the right post before Ennis also shot beyond the woodwork after Kelly had rushed out.
Wheatley continued to find good positions after the break, none better than on the edge of the six-yard box when he latched onto Jack Fletcher’s left-wing cut-back, only to shoot over the crossbar.
That was United’s only real clear chance despite asserting some dominance during the second half, which continued after a triple change brought player-coach Tommy Rowe, Jacob Devaney and Bendito Mantato on. Chido Obi also entered the fray, and soon after teed Amir Ibragimov up on the area's edge. The 16-year-old forward had plenty of space in which to work a shot, and capitalised on the opportunity by finding the bottom left corner to spark an exuberant celebration.
MATCH DETAILS
United XI: Mee; Kamason, Kingdon, Jackson, Murray (Rowe 69); Gore (Devaney 69), Moorhouse (Mantato 69); Ibragimov, J. Fletcher, Ennis; Wheatley (Obi 80).
Unused subs: Murdock, Munro, Missin.
Goal: Ibragimov 82.
Booked: Jackson.