Manchester United U16s see VAR drama as they go to penalties again in Hong Kong | OneFootball

1

Manchester United U16s played their second match of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Youth Football Academy Summit on Sunday.

Following a loss on penalties to Kitchee U18s on Friday, United took on Hong Kong’s U16s national team.

More information on the academy summit and an interview with the branch secretary of the official Manchester United supporters’ club in Hong Kong can be found in our report here.

First half

The first chance of the match came United’s way when a free kick delivered into the box was not cleared and fell to Mo Ibragimov, but the United striker skied his volley over the bar. Shortly after, another ball into the box found its way to Ibragimov, who kept his shot down this time, but it rolled just wide of the left post.

Against the run of play, Hong Kong took the lead in the 23rd minute. A pinpoint cross-field pass took United’s defenders out of the game, allowing Hong Kong to get to the byline on the left before squaring the ball across for an easy finish on the line.

United had the majority of the possession throughout the first half but were limited to few chances by a resolute Hong Kong backline.

Hong Kong looked to hit on the counter-attack again late in the half when their striker broke free behind the United defenders, but an important recovery challenge from Joe Deighton kept the score at 1-0 going into the break.

Second half

United coach James Chester looked to the bench at the half and introduced four changes, which proved effective as United levelled the score just six minutes after the restart.

Ibragimov started the move with a darting run through the centre before feeding the ball to Estan Chisnall-Devent on the left wing. Ibragimov received the return ball at the edge of the box and rocketed it into the bottom far corner.

The young Red Devils looked the more likely to score and did just that in the 72nd minute through substitute Benji Houghton.

Captain Brian Nyonyi launched the attack by initially avoiding a challenge in midfield and then lasering a pass to Joe Akinsanya charging down the right wing, who delivered a cross first time to be finished by Houghton at the back post.

Houghton then looked to play provider with a teasing cross across the face of goal, which was just out of reach of Simon Okeke.

With United heading towards victory, a routine save was spilled by Bill Hartley into the goal to bring Hong Kong back into it.

In stoppage time, Locclan Harrison had a header cleared off the line, which kept the score at 2-2, sending the match into penalties just as it did on Friday.

The penalty shootout saw some VAR drama as United were allowed to retake two penalties after Okeke and Eddie Wright were denied by the Hong Kong keeper, who was adjudged to have come off his line by VAR.

But despite the pair scoring on their re-takes, Hong Kong still ran out winners with a 5-4 scoreline.

United legend Antonio Valencia was present as an ambassador at the event and presented United’s player of the match award to Houghton, who impressed off the bench despite playing up an age group and being the smallest player on the pitch.

Match facts

United: Hartley (Irving 90+6), Waters (Akinsanya 46), Harrison (Murdock 46), Deighton, Fagborun (Harrison 67), Nyonyi, Mills (Bangura 46), Chisnall-Devent (Houghton 67), Millward (Okeke 46), Marsden-Umebuani (Wright 53), Ibragimov (Mullings 67)