Under-18s pass Everton test
Second-half goals from Zidane Iqbal and Alejandro Garnacho enabled Manchester United’s Under-18s to take maximum points with a 2-0 win in a tight contest against Everton at the Aon Training Complex on Saturday afternoon.
United opened well and enjoyed the bulk of the possession but the visitors steadily eased their way back into the fray.
Genuine chances for both teams were scarce in the first half but that altered after the interval with goalmouth activity going up several notches.
Genuine chances for both teams were scarce in the first half but that altered after the interval with goalmouth activity going up several notches.
This contest, played under cloudy blue skies and a watery sun in Carrington, could be best described as an upper middle-of-the-table clash. Before kick-off, United were in sixth place with nine points from four games, and Everton were one spot higher than their hosts, having harvested ten points from six outings.
Based on those statistics it didn’t take an expert pundit to work out that this fixture against the team from the blue half of Liverpool could turn out to be a tight affair.
The first half most certainly followed that pattern with both sides seeing plenty of the ball but where it really mattered most, in front of goal, there was little luck or accuracy from the forwards.
Omari Forson went closest for United during the opening session when his spectacular volley from Charlie Wellens’ terrific cross-field pass fizzed past the post. And Charlie McNeill was also unlucky when his shot flew over the crossbar.
Based on those statistics it didn’t take an expert pundit to work out that this fixture against the team from the blue half of Liverpool could turn out to be a tight affair.
The first half most certainly followed that pattern with both sides seeing plenty of the ball but where it really mattered most, in front of goal, there was little luck or accuracy from the forwards.
Omari Forson went closest for United during the opening session when his spectacular volley from Charlie Wellens’ terrific cross-field pass fizzed past the post. And Charlie McNeill was also unlucky when his shot flew over the crossbar.
It was a different story after the break with both teams piling up the chances and just six minutes after the second half began, United moved into the lead when Iqbal cleverly found space before picking his spot and firing past Everton ‘keeper Zan Luk Leban.
That could easily have been United’s second goal for just seconds as Isak Hansen had just seen his shot, which looked bound for the net, tipped over by the Toffees’ shot-stopper.
Everton started to look considerably more dangerous in attack with both Tom Cannon and Lewis Dobbin failing narrowly to find a way past Vitek Radek.
Neil Ryan sent on three substitutes midway through the half and it was one of those replacements, Garnacho, who sealed the win and the three points with an angled drive with three minutes remaining on the clock.
That could easily have been United’s second goal for just seconds as Isak Hansen had just seen his shot, which looked bound for the net, tipped over by the Toffees’ shot-stopper.
Everton started to look considerably more dangerous in attack with both Tom Cannon and Lewis Dobbin failing narrowly to find a way past Vitek Radek.
Neil Ryan sent on three substitutes midway through the half and it was one of those replacements, Garnacho, who sealed the win and the three points with an angled drive with three minutes remaining on the clock.
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The win increased United's points total to twelve, sufficient to see us leapfrog Everton into fifth place in the Under-18 Premier League North table.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Radek; Jurado, Bennett, Hardley, Pye; Iqbal (Svidersky 66), Savage; Wellens (Garnacho 71), Hansen, Forson; McNeill (Hoogewerf 65).
Substitutes: Hughes, Mee.
Goals: Iqbal 51, Garnacho 87.
Our 2020/21 home, away and third kits are available from United Direct.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Radek; Jurado, Bennett, Hardley, Pye; Iqbal (Svidersky 66), Savage; Wellens (Garnacho 71), Hansen, Forson; McNeill (Hoogewerf 65).
Substitutes: Hughes, Mee.
Goals: Iqbal 51, Garnacho 87.
Our 2020/21 home, away and third kits are available from United Direct.
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