Manchester United’s under-23 side played through a competitive match with Huddersfield Town’s first team on Saturday afternoon.
United rushed into a two goal lead, with Mark Helm capitalising on a goalkeeper mistake to give the young Red Devils an early advantage.
Moments later Anthony Elanga put United 2-0 up, with a very well taken goal.
Di’Shon Bernard carried the ball out of central defence and passed forward to Elanga on the left wing, who took one touch to control the ball, before lashing it into the bottom corner.
Huddersfield then turned the game on it’s head, making it 2-2 before half-time, before taking the lead.
Hannibal Mejbri scored an equaliser to make it 3-3, after Elanga and then Arnau Puigmal played him through.
A draw was a fair result as United’s young guns role to the challenge of facing a senior, if weakened, Championship side.
Elanga the star
Anthony Elanga was one of the best players for United’s under-18 team last season, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in nine games.
Elanga was bright here, he drifted in and out of the game, but when he was in possession he was a real danger.
The 18-year-old winger plays in a position where United are light, without real back-up for Marcus Rashford on the left side.
A series of strong performances for the under-23 side will put the Sweden youth international into the first team discussion.
If he steps up and produces regular moments of quality like he did in this match, then he has a chance.
Fan reaction
United supporters want to see more competition for Rashford, and there was real encouragement at seeing Elanga begin the next step of his journey towards the first team.
He has a long way to go, but this performance was a good sign of things to come…
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