Manchester United U21s took on Sutton United in the quarter-finals of the inaugural National League Cup on Tuesday night.
Having finished the group stage with four wins out of four, Travis Binnion’s side would have headed into the fixture full of confidence but for the need for rotation due to injuries and players being involved with the first team.
But despite the young team selection, United looked the better side in the early stages.
Inside the opening ten minutes, the first chance of the match came from some good play down the left wing by United before Sam Murray delivered a low ball into the box that saw Tommy Rowe snatch at a shot which went just wide of the right post.
Godwill Kukonki then found Jack Moorhouse who took the ball on his left foot before shifting it with his right across the defender to run into the box but he went for power over placement with his shot saved by the opposition keeper.
United came closest to making the breakthrough in the 26th minute when he picked up the ball in United’s own half before driving forward and smacking the ball off the post from 30 yards out, inches away from a sensational goal.
Against the run of play, Sutton took the lead just a minute later. A looping cross from the left was allowed to be taken down in the box too easily and finished off by Finley Barbrook.
Late in the half, United had a penalty shout when Amir Ibragimov was blatantly pushed over while driving into the box but the referee wasn’t giving anything and waved play on.
Into the second half, a blistering counter-attack from United started with Moorhouse taking it on the turn to drive forward and ended with Jim Thwaites dragging his shot just wide of the goal.
Moments later, United almost produced a carbon copy of the Sutton goal. Tommy Rowe looped a deep cross which was chested down by Ibragimov at back post who found Thwaites centrally but his tame effort was saved by the Sutton keeper.
It was a big chance missed and Sutton capitalised on United’s finishing by extending their lead in the 65th minute despite a clear offside in the build-up.
The offside wasn’t spotted though as Sutton ran down the right wing and crossed low for a close-range finish.
The home side then sealed the win after United failed to clear twice which allowed Jack Wadham to make it 3-0.
The disappointing result sees United knocked out of the National League Cup. But the academy setup will now turn their focus to Friday’s FA Youth Cup tie away to Arsenal at The Emirates.
United: Murdock, Ogunneye, Fredricson (c), Kukonki (Plunkett 70), Murray, McAllister (Lusale 58), Kone, Rowe, Thwaites (Mills 70), Moorhouse, Ibragimov
Unused subs: Myles
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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.
