Manchester United u21s took on rivals Liverpool on Sunday afternoon in Premier League 2 action.
After suffering defeat midweek to Brackley Town in the National League Cup, Travis Binnion’s side were hoping to turn it around to keep their 100% record in the league alive.
The match marked the first competitive appearance for United for Diego Leon, having previously appeared in pre-season with the first team and in a friendly this month for the u21s.
First half
A mix up at the back between Diego Leon and Bendito Mantato on the left wing allowed Liverpool to take an early lead.
Both of the United players got caught watching the ball as the runner peeled off to run into the box and drew a save from Will Murdock but the United keeper couldn’t keep out Michael Laffey’s header on the rebound.
At the other end, Chido Obi showed off some good footwork to open space at the edge of the box but his shot was ultimately blocked after being played in by Jack Fletcher.
Late into the half, it was the other Fletcher who fed Obi to draw the match level at 1-1 going into the break.
Tyler Fletcher and Shea Lacey combined to start the move before Fletcher charged into the box, laying off to Obi to finish from a tight angle on the right side of the box.
Second half
Five minutes after the restart, Lacey drifted to the left wing and stood up a cross to the back post for Jaydan Kamason running into but the crossbar kept the score level as the keeper was left with no chance.
The second half saw improvement from United in their chance creation, Jack Fletcher slipping Obi through just after the hour mark but Armin Pecsi was quick off his line to make the save.
Lacey looked United’s most likely to make the breakthrough, turning his marker inside and out his shot was spilled by Pecsi before Kamason’s follow up attempt was blocked.
Liverpool were still a danger though, Trent Kone-Doherty’s cross was bundled off the post in the 73rd minute before a soft foul was give on Murdock who failed to smother the loose ball.
Lacey and Obi forced two more good saves from Pecsi, tipping the ball wide for corners on both ocassions.
United found the winner though in the 81st minute, Mantato overlapped on the left wing before crossing low to Obi in the centre. Obi’s shot was saved but Kamason was on hand to slot in the rebound as Pecsi scrambled across the goal.
The three points extends United’s 100% record in the league after four matches and puts them in first place.
Match facts
United XI: Murdock, Kamason, Devaney (c), Armer, Leon (Scanlon 46), T. Fletcher, Fitzgerald, J. Fletcher, Lacey (Musa 77), Obi (Biancheri 90+3), Mantato
Unused subs: Heath, Munro
Goals: Obi 43, Kamason 81 | Laffey 11
Featured image Richard Heathcote via Getty Images
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Colm Murphy
A football obsessed Canadian who moved to England to enjoy the beautiful game. Colm has been keen follower of Manchester United’s famed academy since seeing a fresh faced Adnan Januzaj for the club’s u18s and has been writing about football with a focus on youth development for over 10 years.
