Manchester United u21s started their Premier League International Cup campaign on Tuesday night hosting Hertha Berlin II at Salford City’s Peninsula Stadium.
A fitting location considering Salford’s owners’ history in the United academy, a number of Travis Binnion’s side will be looking to follow in the footsteps of the Class of 92.
United almost got off to the perfect start when the Hertha defender failed to clear his lines, allowing Ethan Wheatley to steal the ball in the box for a chance on goal. It came off the post within the first minute of the match.
Five minutes later, it was Wheatley causing trouble again as he escaped his tight marker in the box to fashion a bit of space to shoot low across goal but this time it flashed just the wrong side of the left post.
The German side soon found their feet and employed an impressive high press that saw United struggle to play the ball out from the back consistently.
Jaydan Kamason had the toughest time for United and was forced into making three fouls within the opening half hour of the match. In the 32nd minute, Hertha escaped down the left wing behind Kamason before cutting back for an open chance in the box but fortunately a poor effort saw the ball sail well over the bar.
Hertha would put the ball in the net just before the break but the offside flag came to the relief of United.
Into the second half, United looked more accustomed to the pace of the match, with Dan Gore in particular shining in midfield. United’s captain on the day skipped past one challenge before leaving another midfielder on the floor as he ran at the heart of Hertha, with the only way to stop him being a foul at the edge of the box.
Just before the hour mark, an opponent exposed the space in behind United’s defence on the right wing to come inside and shoot, but the visitors were kept out by Hubert Graczyk before Louis Jackson cleared the danger.
Shortly after, having just been introduced, Zach Baumann picked up the ball in midfield before passing to Wheatley, who was able to poke the ball through for Baumann to receive the return ball on the run between the Hertha defenders and finish past the keeper just inside the box.
Hertha looked to spoil the drama late on when they broke into the box from the left wing to shoot from close range for what looked a certain goal, but the ever-present Jackson was on hand again to thwart the German’s effort.
Unfortunately, United couldn’t hold on until the final whistle though. In injury time, a ball into the box ended with Tyler Fletcher swinging to clear, but he made the slightest contact and brought down a Hertha attacker. A penalty was awaded and 23 year old Ensar Aksakal slid the ball into bottom right corner to make it 1-1 and give each team a single point.
United’s next fixture in the competition comes at the end of October when they host PSV Eindhoven at Leigh Sports Village.
United: Graczyk, Kamason, Jackson, Kingdon, Amass, Fitzgerald (Baumann 60), Gore (T. Fletcher 60), Missin (Mantato 71), Scanlon (Moorhouse 60), Mather, Wheatley (Biancheri 78)
Unused subs: Murdock, Rowe
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