U21s match summary: United v Hertha Berlin

Only the woodwork denied the young Reds from taking a very early lead at Salford City's Peninsula Stadium, after Ethan Wheatley struck the base of the post with a low shot inside the opening minute.

Wheatley twice went close - via another grounded strike that trickled wide and a header over - before Hertha's first major attempt was produced by Jelani Ndi. The visitors' no.19 came in from the right flank but saw his powerful left-footed effort arrow away from the target at the last moment.

The German side grew into the first half and had repeated success at winning the ball back with a high press. Louis Jackson's goalline clearance was needed to prevent a ricocheted ball off Dion Ajvazi from finding the net, after the latter had initially set Hertha on the attack by nipping in to gain possession in a dangerous area.

As half-time approached, the Berlin outfit were again probing. Julius Gottschalk struck a swerving free-kick off target, before a successful short-corner routine looked to have opened the scoring, only for the assistant referee's offside flag to go up.

There was work to do for United goalkeeper Hubert Graczyk after the interval, with the shot-stopper doing well to keep out goalbound efforts from Gottschalk and substitute Bilal Hussein on separate occasions, before a sub of our own broke the deadlock.

Wheatley's through ball looked to have been advantageously touched by Ashton Missin into the path of Zach Baumann, less than five minutes after his introduction on the hour mark, who took it in his stride before placing a low finish beyond the goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area. 

It looked to be the decisive moment on the night, with neither side able to make a further impression on the scoreline, until the third of three added minutes. Tyler Fletcher was judged to have fouled Ensar Aksakal inside our own 18-yard box, before the latter got up to successfully convert the subsequent spot-kick. 

It meant the points were shared at the final whistle, which followed soon after, ahead of United's future PL International Cup group games against PSV Eindhoven (30 October), Sparta Prague (7 December) and Nordsjaelland (15 January).

MATCH DETAILS

United: Graczyk; Kamason, Kingdon, Jackson, Amass; Fitzgerald (Moorhouse 60), Gore (c) (T. Fletcher 60); Missin (Mantato 71), Scanlon (Baumann 60), Mather; Wheatley (Biancheri 78).

Unused subs: Murdock, Rowe.

Booked: Gore, Fitzgerald, Jackson, Biancheri, Kamason, Baumann.

Goal: Baumann 64.