Key points
Manchester United under-21 side have been in action tonight in the National League Cup against Forest Green Rovers.
It may be international week, but there was a match for Manchester United supporters to pay attention to.
Manchester United’s under-21 side played their first ever National League Cup game against non-league side Forest Green Rovers, who were relegated from League Two last season.
Forest Green had been in good form, second in the National League, and scored after just three minute through in-form striker Christian Doidge.
United’s youngsters kept composed and clawed their way back into the game, with Malachi Sharpe netting from a Ethan Ennis cross.
Ennis scored to put United 2-1 up minutes later, before Forest Green equalised just before half-time.
United were the better team in the second half, scoring a superb counter-attack after a corner, with substitutes Ethan Williams and Victor Musa combining.
Spanish youngster Musa scored the goal, an unstoppable effort into the top corner, ensuring penalties were avoided, and the National League Cup campaign began with a win.
The victory was made even better by the fact so many of the under-21 squad were missing, Ethan Wheatley, Harry Amass, Toby Collyer, Jack Fletcher et al, due to youth international duty.
Full-time
Manchester United’s under-21s win 3-2 after a late winner from Victor Musa.
This was a good test for United’s youngsters who proved their mettle and quality after bouncing back from a goal down after just three minutes.
[Link]Into stoppage time
Rather than Forest Green pushing for an equaliser, it is United who are going forward and trying to score a fourth goal.
[Link]3-2 to United!
A quick counter attack with two substitutes combining.
Ethan Williams races away with the ball and drives upfield with a cross-field pass to Victor Musa.
Musa takes a touch, composes himself, and rifles his shot into the top corner!
[Link]Dan Gore makes way
Manchester United’s captain is off, the final substitution.
Dan Gore makes way for highly rated defender Godwill Kukonki.
[Link]Triple change for United
Jack Moorhouse, Ethan Williams and Victor Musa are on.
Ethan Ennis, Sam Mather and Finley McAllister make way.
[Link]Mathers forces a save
Sam Mather has a rasping shot from the edge of the box which is parried away by the goalkeeper.
Mather scored twice in the National League on loan with Rochdale last season.
[Link]End to end action
Malachi Sharpe breaks in behind the Forest Green defence and nobody can quite get on the end of his cross.
Forest Green then launch a counter-attack and get through to the last man, with Jack Kingdon winning possession back with a perfectly timed tackle.
[Link]Big chance for United
Ethan Ennis drives into the box and his shot is blocked into the path of Zach Baumann, who must hit the target, but his shot goes wide.
[Link]Half-time
That was an entertaining half and a very good 45 minutes from Manchester United’s youngsters, who are without players like Ethan Wheatley and Harry Amass, who are away on youth international duty.
Forest Green Rovers are second in the National League, and United have given a good account of themselves, and could be leading.
[Link]Chance for Forest Green
Both sides have been pushing for a third goal and it’s Forest Green who go closest, with a shot from close range just wide.
[Link]2-1 to United
What a turnaround!
Ethan Ennis gives United the lead, after a cross from the same side, this time from Habeeb Ogunneye.
[Link]United asking questions…
United are putting Forest Green under pressure with two corners in quick succession.
[Link]Action at both ends
Forest Green have a chance which goes just wide, before United winger Malachi Sharpe runs into the box, beat an opponent, before just running out of road.
[Link]United settling into the game…
United have settled into the game and are looking more composed after such a poor start.
The team are yet to create any chances so far though.
[Link]0-1 Forest Green Rovers score
Early goal for Forest Green Rovers with striker Christian Doidge on target.
United give the ball away in their own half and the National League side take advantage, scoring in the third minute.
[Link]Manchester United’s under-21s results
Manchester United’s under-21 side have had some mixed results this season, catch up on them all here…
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Kick-off details
Manchester United’s under-21 side’s match at Forest Green Rovers kicks off at 7pm.
[Link]What is the National League Cup?
Find out more about the new competition Manchester United’s youngsters are playing in for the first time tonight…
[Link]
No Sekou Kone
Manchester United youngster Sekou Kone posted a picture in full kit last night, 24 hours out from the game.
This posed the possibility he could be involved tonight against Forest Green Rovers, but the academy staff have decided not to select the Mali youth international for this fixture.
[Link]Manchester United line-up confirmed
Starting XI: Mee, Ogunneye, Rowe, Kingdon, Jackson, McAllister, Gore, Sharpe, Baumann, Mather, Ennis
Substitutes: Graczyk, Fredricson, Kukonki, Mantato, Musa, Williams
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