Academy Match Report: Sunderland U18s 2-1 Manchester United U18s | OneFootball

Manchester United Under-18s travelled to Sunderland on Saturday afternoon for a league encounter.

It was a heavily rotated selection from Darren Fletcher, with only two starters from Wednesday’s Premier League Cup final remaining in the side.

In the midst of a title charge, United had to do without a number of key players on the day, including JJ Gabriel, who missed out in order to train with the first team.

First half

The young Red Devils got off to a bad start as a mistake from keeper Fred Heath saw the ball turned over to Caleb Shakespeare, who quickly fired into the goal.

United responded nearly immediately, levelling the score back in just the eighth minute. Jay McEvoy’s corner delivery found the head of Louie Bradbury, who headed in from close range at the front post.

Sunderland restored their lead five minutes later after another error from United, as Douka Nkoto’s raised hand inadvertently caught the face of Jay Matadeen and conceded a penalty.

Matadeen slotted into the right corner from the spot to make it 2-1 to the home side at Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground.

Later in the half, Heath produced a big save to keep the deficit at one after Sunderland broke free down the right wing.

In stoppage time, Bradbury tried to catch Sunderland’s keeper Joe Cowan out of his goal with an audacious half-volley from near the halfway line, but the Welsh striker’s effort went wide of the goal.

Second half

In the second half, Sunderland continued to look the more likely to score when they hit the post after Heath failed to claim the high ball from a corner delivery.

United did well to maintain control in the second half but struggled to create any clear-cut chances, with a wide-angle effort from Jariyah Shah that was parried away from danger the pick of the bunch.

In the 79th minute, Sunderland hit the post twice in quick succession, striking the left post before seeing another attempt cannon off the right post and out after a melee in the United area.

United were handed a lifeline in stoppage time to salvage a point when a stellar long ball from McEvoy found the path of Junior Brown, who was cleaned out by Cowan to earn a penalty.

After losing the penalty shoot-out in the Premier League Cup on Wednesday, Noah Ajayi never looked confident and had his effort saved.

Failing to pick up any points on the day, United now trail league leaders Manchester City by six points. United will also meet City in the FA Youth Cup final, for which a date has yet to be set.

Match facts

United: Heath, Overy (C), Emsden-James (G.Ibragimov 88), McCormack, Plunkett (Brown 63), McEvoy, Shah, Camacho Sidos (O’Brien 63), D.Nkoto, Ajayi, Bradbury.

Unused subs: Z.Watson, Helafu.

Goals: Bradbury 9.

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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