Manchester United u18s travelled south to London today to take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League Cup.
As one of the top sides in the Premier League South, Tottenham offered a different test to Adam Lawrence’s side that they don’t often meet in the league.
A tough test it proved to be, with Tottenham taking an early lead just five minutes in.
Nearly a carbon copy of the goal at senior level, Malachi Hardy picked up the ball from centre back and charged upfield through United before laying the ball off, which was then played through to Ellis Lehane centrally to finish past Will Murdoch.
Ten minutes later, United came close to equalising when Jayce Fitzgerald’s corner found the rising head of Reece Munro to head onto goal, but it was cleared off the line.
With United looking on the up, Tottenham hit on the break to double their lead after what looked to be a foul in midfield. Murdock initially kept out Lehane with a top save but Luca Williams-Bennett was on hand to bury the rebound.
In the 26th minute, too much space was given on the left wing for Williams-Bennett to pick up the ball and run into the box before finishing past Murdock to make it 3-0. This would remain the score going into half time.
After the break, Spurs threatened with an attempt off the post before adding their fourth as they looked to completely run away with it.
A bright spark for United though was Shea Lacey, who continued his return from injury with an introduction from the bench on the hour mark.
The 17 year old looked to rally the United side and turned the match on its head.
With United on the ascendency in the latter stages of the match, Lacey pulled one back in the 77th minute when he cut in from the right and struck into the bottom right corner.
Just two minutes later, Lacey added another when he drove into the box and cut past the defender onto his right foot to hook a shot towards goal, which the keeper could only swat into the goal.
The comeback looked well and truly on when Gabriele Biancheri was taken down in the box to win a penalty, which he stepped up to slot away to make it 4-3 but unfortunately for Lawrence’s side time soon ran out, with the final whistle coming before they could find the equaliser.
It was an impressive last 20 minutes after the introduction of Lacey, but the opening hour of mistakes was ultimately too much for United to overcome. The result sees United and Spurs locked on three points and tied for second in the group as they head into the final group stage match.
United: Murdock, Plunkett (Musa 46), Munro (Ibragimov 46), Armer, Kukonki, T. Fletcher (Thwaites 67), Baumann, Mantato, Fitzgerald, Scanlon (Lacey 60), Biancheri
Unused subs: Byrne-Hughes
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