UEFA Youth League: Brodarac 0 Manchester United 2
Manchester United clinched a place in the UEFA Youth League round of 16 on the back of two first-half goals and a professional performance in testing circumstances in Belgrade.
Indy Boonen set the youngsters on the way to victory in the play-off and Brodarac defender Mihajlo Ivancevic put through his own net to double the advantage.
The Reds were without Luca Ercolani, Aidan Barlow and Tahith Chong, while Ethan Laird picked up a late knock despite being named on the bench. The hosts missed Lazar Kozic, who had been the star man in the earlier rounds but joined Dutch outfit Fortuna Sittard last month.
The Reds were without Luca Ercolani, Aidan Barlow and Tahith Chong, while Ethan Laird picked up a late knock despite being named on the bench. The hosts missed Lazar Kozic, who had been the star man in the earlier rounds but joined Dutch outfit Fortuna Sittard last month.
Following a minute's silence to remember the Munich Air Disaster, the artificial 3G pitch in Zozdovac and some strong-arm tactics made this a challenge from the outset. Ivancevic went straight through the back of Joshua Bohui in the very first minute, leaving the striker with a sore back.
Angel Gomes was the next Red to be left in agony when caught by Milos Toseski and Uros Lukic showed the Serbian's threat with a couple of decent attempts that were not far away. However, Nicky Butt's men constructed by far the best move of the game to open the scoring.
Angel Gomes was the next Red to be left in agony when caught by Milos Toseski and Uros Lukic showed the Serbian's threat with a couple of decent attempts that were not far away. However, Nicky Butt's men constructed by far the best move of the game to open the scoring.
Tyrell Warren won the ball and it eventually ended up with Boonen, who weaved his way into a shooting position on the edge of the area and fired goalwards, with keeper Mihajlo Zravkovic only able to push it into the net.
Warren was heavily involved in the second goal on the half-hour mark as he picked up a corner by Gomes and managed to squeeze in a cross with his left foot. The centre came off Ivancevic's head and ended up in the back of Zravkovic's net.
Warren was heavily involved in the second goal on the half-hour mark as he picked up a corner by Gomes and managed to squeeze in a cross with his left foot. The centre came off Ivancevic's head and ended up in the back of Zravkovic's net.
Zravkovic had to palm away a fine effort by Gomes, who displayed magnificent footwork inside the box, but the hosts remained in contention and fiercely competitive. D'Mani Mellor came on at the break for Nishan Burkart, to play up front with Bohui switching to the left, and he supplied boundless energy on his Under-19s debut.
Bohui was subjected to another poor challenge when Ognjen Mitrovic went in needlessly high on the forward and was fortunate to escape with a yellow card. Brodarac made life difficult with Matija Babovic failing to get any power in his header from Mitrovic's centre and Srdan Kocic's free-kick needing to be scrambled around the post by Reds keeper Alex Fojticek.
Bohui was subjected to another poor challenge when Ognjen Mitrovic went in needlessly high on the forward and was fortunate to escape with a yellow card. Brodarac made life difficult with Matija Babovic failing to get any power in his header from Mitrovic's centre and Srdan Kocic's free-kick needing to be scrambled around the post by Reds keeper Alex Fojticek.
Several flare-ups appeared inevitable, with Uros Lukic and Ro-Shaun Williams both booked after a confrontation at a corner but Butt's side kept their cool. Mellor had a shot blocked at source and then flashed a drive the wrong side of the far post following approach work by the excellent Jimmy Garner and Gomes.
Babovic's curler sailed narrowly wide and, with it, the Serbian champions' hopes of getting anything out of the tie evaporated as United kept a clean sheet to advance to the last 16 of the competition.
Babovic's curler sailed narrowly wide and, with it, the Serbian champions' hopes of getting anything out of the tie evaporated as United kept a clean sheet to advance to the last 16 of the competition.
United: Fojticek; Warren, R. Williams, O'Connor, Tanner; Garner, Hamilton; Boonen (B. Williams 83), Gomes, Burkart (Mellor 46); Bohui (Levitt 77). Subs not used: Thompson, Dunne, Kenyon, Laird.
MUTV is showing extended highlights of the game at 23:00 GMT on Wednesday night.
MUTV is showing extended highlights of the game at 23:00 GMT on Wednesday night.
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