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Manchester United u18s kicked off their season on Saturday with an away derby with Manchester City.
A tough fixture to start the season, Adam Lawrence’s reigning treble winning side knew a win over last season’s runners up was the perfect way to lay down the marker for a potential repeat this year.
An early chance came United’s way when Tyler Fletcher played through Gabriele Biancheri, but the Welsh striker’s effort was fired into the side netting.
Some shaky passing at the back opened chances for the home side and they came the closest when Finlay Gorman was allowed a wide open header from close range, but Will Murdock was on hand to save the day with a spectacular save.
Into the second half, United started hot with Bendito Mantato crossing low to James Scanlon who fired the ball over the bar at the back post.
Five minutes into the second half, Mantato played the ball to Fletcher on the right wing, who played a low driven cross in that was tapped in at the back post by Biancheri.
Biancheri opens his account for the season to put United ahead!
Great work by Mantato and Fletcher to create the opportunity. pic.twitter.com/j9UIqJx8JE
— SCOOP. (@AcademyScoop) August 24, 2024
Less than ten minutes later, Biancheri turned provider when he played Zach Baumann into the box, who cut back and laid the ball off to Mantato at the penalty spot to finish low off his left boot.
Bendito Mantato’s goal for 2-0
Look at that for an assist from Baumann…great stuff pic.twitter.com/RzIoZiqphG
— Academy Arena (@academyarenaUTD) August 24, 2024
City threatened through Matty Warhurst, who had a quick fire double chance, the first of which was saved by Murdock before the City striker put his second attempt wide of the target.
Mantato almost created another goal for Biancheri but United’s number nine couldn’t get the ball past the keeper’s outstretched leg.
Murdock had a lucky escape late on when he took down a City player charging through late on outside of the box, but the referee deemed the offence to be only worthy of a yellow card.
With City chasing a goal until the dying moments, midfielder Jacob Devaney displayed a great bit of defending to catch up to the attacker before winning the ball back and then winning a free kick to ease the danger, capping of a man of the match style performance.
Ultimately, the two goals were enough to secure the win for United and start their title defence off perfectly with a win over their biggest rivals.
United now look to defend their Premier League Cup crown as they take on Leicester City on Tuesday.
United: Murdock, Kamason, Armer, Fitzgerald, Kukonki (Plunkett 89), Devaney, Baumann, Mantato, T. Fletcher (Thwaites 71), Scanlon (Ibragimov 78), Biancheri
Unused subs: Byrne-Hughes, Mills
