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Wednesday 06 November 2024 20:45
A dominant 11-2 aggregate victory over Lithuanian youth champions FK Zalgiris qualifies Manchester United’s Under-19s for the UEFA Youth League third round, where they’ll take on AZ Alkmaar.
Adam Lawrence’s young Reds were crowned English champions back in May, earning them a place in Europe’s elite club competition at this level, as well as the glistening league trophy.
A 5-2 triumph in Vilnius a fortnight ago at Zalgiris’ LFF Stadium gave United confidence and a three-goal advantage coming into Wednesday evening’s second leg at Leigh Sports Village, where Lawrence’s outfit wasted little time in extending their advantage.
Ethan Williams’ cool finish inside the area provided United an eighth-minute lead.
Ethan Williams, a double goalscorer out in Lithuania, coolly slotted home past Joris Aliukonis seven minutes in, assisted excellently by Ashton Missin, equally lively in Greater Manchester as he was in the first leg.
That another would follow seemed immediately likely, with midfielder Jacob Devaney shooting wide twice, the first after a smartly pulled-back corner from Williams, and then when pouncing on a loose ball at the area’s edge.
It was a corner from the opening goalscorer Williams that saw United’s lead double. Captain Tyler Fredricson headed well into the bottom right corner after the pace of the cross beat the goalkeeper.
United maintained tempo well even after opening up a five-goal aggregate advantage, and that had been boosted to six by the break. Ethan Wheatley finished inventively at the near post after Harry Amass had stretched to cross from the area’s left side.
Wheatley could have had another before half-time. The English striker drove forward from the halfway line on the counter-attack and moved into space created by Fitzgerald’s smart movement. His eventual shot was tipped around the right post for a corner.
Wheatley, who became United’s 250th Academy with his senior debut in April, netted the Under-19s’ third of the night.
Summer arrival Sekou Kone made his second competitive United appearance as a half-time substitute for Fitzgerald.
The Reds failed to convert a couple of half-chances before Missin earned just reward for his positive performance across both legs, tapping in from close range after a left-wing cross had gone loose in the box.
Zalgiris showed some threat around the hour mark, allowing United to counter. On one occasion, Devaney shot early with the goalkeeper out of his area, nearly finding the net from 35 yards with a creative lob.
Substitute James Scanlon shot narrowly wide of the right post before fellow second-half arrival Gabriele Biancheri found United’s fifth of the night and his 13th of the season. The Welsh forward showed good footwork to generate space in the box, getting away from his marker sufficiently to shoot and find the far right corner.
Scanlon then added United’s sixth late on, having been denied by Aliukonis only a minute before.
UNITED: Murdock; Kamason, Jackson (Munro 68), Fredricson (c), Amass (Mantato 61); Devaney, Fitzgerald (Kone 45); Missin, J. Fletcher, Williams (Scanlon 68); Wheatley (Biancheri 61).
Unused subs: Musa, Baumann, Kukonki, Byrne-Hughes.
Goals: Williams 8, Fredricson 17, Wheatley 37, Missin 57, Biancheri 78, Scanlon 89.
While this game couldn’t be shown live on MUTV due to UEFA broadcasting restrictions – the match clashed with fixtures in the Champions League – highlights will be available on ManUtd.com and the United App as soon as possible. Saturday’s 11:00 GMT U18 Premier League meeting with Everton will be shown live on MUTV. Subscribe here to watch.
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Wednesday 06 November 2024 20:45
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