Academy Match Report: Wolves U21s 1-4 Man United U21s | OneFootball

Manchester United Under-21s returned from the festive break with an away trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night.

With Travis Binnion assisting Darren Fletcher with the first team, Tom Curtis stepped up to take charge of the young Red Devils for the evening.

United fielded a strong side, with Tyrell Malacia dropping down from the first team along with both Tyler and Jack Fletcher after their recent first team involvements.

First half

The home side threatened first with a clever short corner routine in the opening minute of the match, which saw their headed attempt hit the outside of the post.

United soon gained control of the match and had Wolverhampton Wanderers pinned back in their half for the majority of the proceedings.

Despite playing exceptionally well out of possession, United struggled to break down Wolverhampton Wanderers and create clear openings. It was not until injury time in the first half that United made the breakthrough.

Alfie Brooks in the Wolverhampton Wanderers’ goal handled the ball outside the box to give United a free-kick, and the keeper compounded his error when he spilled Jack Fletcher’s shot, allowing the Dutch Malacia to run in and finish.

Second half

The second half continued with largely one-way traffic, but Wolves began to open up as they searched for an equaliser.

This gave space for Chido Obi to run into the right channel to collect Jayce Fitzgerald’s pass and have his shot deflected off the crossbar.

In the 69th minute, Obi had learnt from Malacia to crash the net and was rewarded for his efforts, tapping in the rebound from James Scanlon’s strike.

Luck was going United’s way as they benefited from another deflection shortly after, when substitute Gabriele Biancheri’s effort hit the defender before looping over the keeper.

Wolves pulled one back in the 83rd minute when Ethan Sutherland collected Reece Munro’s clearance and struck clinically past Will Murdock.

United finished with the three-goal advantage though, as Obi added his second late on. Tyler Fletcher switched the play to Biancheri, who did excellently to poke through to Obi in the box to finish over the keeper.

The victory sends United top of the table with a match in hand ahead of Ipswich Town in second.

Match facts

United: Murdock, Kamason (T. Fletcher 46), Fredricson (Munro 62), Armer, Malacia (Leon 46), Devaney, Fitzgerald, Mantato (Biancheri 70), J. Fletcher, Scanlon, Obi

Unused subs: Heath

Goals: Malacia 45+1, Obi 69, 86, Biancheri 83

Featured image Richard Heathcote via Getty Images

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