Manchester United were unable to stop Manchester City’s reserve team at home. The Manchester Derby ended 1-3 for the “Citizens”. The consolation goal for the hosts early in the second half was scored by striker Ethan Wheatley.
The first half brought only a few scoring opportunities. The closest Manchester United reserve team came to scoring was a free kick by Sam Mather. The ball eventually went wide of the goalpost. The Citizens players had a similar opportunity, with one of the midfielders getting ahead of goalkeeper Hubert Graczyk. The ball went out of bounds after contact with the Manchester City player.
The first goal, unfortunately for the “Citizens”, was scored in the final seconds of the first half. Midfielder Farid Alfa-Ruprecht collected the ball after a shot from his teammate. He then dribbled past Graczyk and confidently finished the action with a shot into the empty net.
The next goals came in the second half, with Manchester United being the first to do so. The goal in the 57th minute was scored by Ethan Wheatley. The hosts took the ball away from their opponents quite early with aggressive pressing. A lightning-fast counterattack brought the Old Trafford club to the opponents’ penalty area, where Wheatley scored with a low shot into the net.
In the following minutes, Manchester United led the game and gained an advantage over their rivals. After one of the corner kicks, the club had a double opportunity. First, Ethan Ennis tried his hand at close range. Jack Fletcher tried to improve after his partner, but his shot also did not bring the team a goal.
The Citizens regained control of the match twenty minutes before the end of the regular time. First, Jaden Haskey converted a pass from Alf-Ruprecht. After this goal, Manchester United desperately attacked, which Manchester City players took advantage of again. In the 78th minute, they carried out a deadly counterattack, which Will Dickson finished off.
Manchester United U21 1 – 3 Manchester City 21
Wheatley 57′ – Alfa-Ruprecht 45’+2′, Haskey 68′, Dickson 78′
Manchester United: Graczyk – Ogunneye , Jackson, Kingdon, Amass – Devaney, Collyer (C) – Ennis , J. Fletcher, Mather – Wheatley
Rezerwowi: Murdock, Missin (Ogunneye 87′), Curley (Devaney 64′), Sharpe (Ennis 64′), Rowe (Fletcher 64′)
