Key points
Manchester United’s U21 side faced Crystal Palace on Bank Holiday Monday in the quarter-final of the Premier League 2 play-offs.
Adam Lawrence took his side to South London on Monday evening for the clash with Crystal Palace for a place in the Premier League 2 semi-finals.
It wasn’t a pretty game, but Manchester United walked out 2-0 winners despite the best efforts of the referee to spoil the spectacle.
Dan Armer opened the scoring as he headed home the loose ball after Shea Lacey’s free-kick was palmed back into danger by the goalkeeper.
Then Chido Obi made it 2-0 as he finished a Godwill Kukonki run off with an excellent strike into the bottom corner.
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With the win, United have claimed a spot in the semi-final against Manchester City.
You can follow all the latest from this clash as and when it happens.
- Crystal Palace 0-2 (Armer, Obi) Manchester United
Full-time
United get over the line in a game which few will have enjoyed. Semi-final against City awaits Lawrence’s side.
[Link]Substitution
ON: Obi OFF: Biancheri
Obi hastened off the pitch because of the referee’s threats of a booking. A much worse offence than the potential leg-breaking tackle on Aljofree earlier in the game.
[Link]Substitution
ON: Scanlon OFF: Musa
Back from loan at Swindon. Scanlon should be eager to prove a point today.
[Link]2-0 Manchester United
Chido Obi makes it 2-0 after a brilliant rampaging run by Kukonki through two or three defenders as the ball then ends up at Obi’s feet.
Obi turns well, carries it toward the edge of the box and finishes nicely into the bottom corner.
Assist: Kukonki
[Link]Substitution
ON: Moorhouse OFF: Thwaites
Adam Lawrence wisely withdraws Thwaites before the referee decides to send him off for standing in the wrong place.
[Link]Aljofree hacked down
Pause in play as the Palace player goes through Aljofree stud first, above the ankle, but the referee has missed it somehow.
That’s a possible career ender if Aljofree had his foot planted. The referee had to send him off for that, but he’s been terrible all game, and despite being the closest person to the incident, he didn’t even think it was worth a yellow.
The referee is instead threatening to give Jim Thwaites a second yellow. For what? Your guess is as good as mine.
[Link]Very close to a Lacey special
Superb switch of play by Jack Fletcher to Lacey, who carries it into the half-space, going inside, then out, then back in and curls a shot at goal, which the goalkeeper fumbles but manages to regain control.
[Link]1-0 Manchester United
Lacey’s free-kick has too much on it for the goalkeeper to hold as he spills his save right into the path of Dan Armer, who heads home.
United take a deserved lead thanks to the 17-year-old. Lacey’s free-kick forced the Palace goalkeeper to assist Armer.
[Link]Lacey wins a free-kick
After being brought down again, this time he’s won a free-kick in a dangerous position after using a nice moment of skill.
[Link]Chido Obi comes close!
Obi forces a save after a nice move from United. Best chance of the game thus far.
[Link]Musa asking questions
It’s Victor Musa getting the most of the ball in the final third, his latest a delightful cross that is put behind for a corner.
[Link]Brilliant from Tyler Fletcher
As United lose the ball, Palace have two attackers bearing down on goal against the two United centre-backs. Tyler Fletcher tracks the run of the 2nd Palace man as he gets back to intercept what would have been a goal.
Great awareness.
[Link]United started to take control
United taking hold of the game, Palace are unable to get out of their own half.
[Link]Feeling out process
United and Palace both having moments in the opening eight minutes. But little in the way of chances to shout about.
[Link]Biancheri and Scanlon back from loan
After underwhelming loans in the back half of this season, both Biancheri and Scanlon offer the United bench some much-needed attacking quality ahead of the quarter-final tonight.
[Link]Manchester United XI
Murdock; Kamason, Aljofree, Armer, Kukonki; T. Fletcher, Thwaites; Lacey, J.Fletcher; Musa; Obi
Subs: Byrne-Hughes, Leon, Moorhouse, Scanlon, Biancheri
[Link]United’s academy are 1-1 with Palace lately
United and Palace will be sick of each other after this season, with the U18s facing each other twice in the cup competitions over the past month.
United beat Palace at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup semi-final. But Palace got revenge by winning the Premier League Cup trophy a week later.
So both will be eager to win this one to avenge their U18 club mates.
[Link]Shea Lacey likely involved
Given he wasn’t in the first-team squad on Sunday, we should get Lacey here for the U21s where he has been a level above.
[Link]How can I watch United vs Palace?
The match between United U21 and Palace will be streamed live on MUTV and the United YouTube channel.
[Link]United U21 live coverage vs Crystal Palace
We will bring you all the latest before, during and after the game.
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