Academy Match Report: Manchester United U21 4-1 West Ham United U21 | OneFootball

Manchester United U21s hosted West Ham United at Leigh Sports Village on Monday in the quarter-finals of the Premier League 2 play-offs.

It was almost a nightmare start for the young Red Devils when Godwill Kukonki played an errant pass within the opening seconds to allow West Ham through on goal but a tame effort made for an easy save for Elyh Harrison.

United controlled possession throughout the first half but did so at a snail’s pace which meant hardly any goalmouth action ensued during the dull opening 45 minutes.

The only bit of action that the first half saw was when the visitors took the lead on the half hour mark.

Tyler Fletcher was closed down quickly on the edge of the United area and a poor touch was compounded by a wayward pass which allowed West Ham to quickly counter as Emeka Adiele applied the finishing touch.

Travis Binnion had his work cut out for him but he managed to inject some fire into a lifeless United side going into the second half.

Playing at a higher tempo, Sam Mather looked to play James Scanlon through two minutes after the restart which was cut out but Scanlon found the breakthrough in the 51st minute.

United forced a turnover high up the pitch with Mather winning the ball and laying off to Tyler Fletcher who slipped Scanlon into the box on the right side to fire low into the far-left corner.

Ethan Wheatley then gave United the lead on the hour mark when Tyler Fletcher played provider again, stabbing a loose ball forward to Wheatley who turned into the box and smashed the ball into the near side of the goal past the keeper.

Wheatley had the ball in the net again two minutes later but it was chalked off for an apparent shove in the back but there was very little in it.

Sam Murray joined the action to make it 3-1 when he won the ball in United’s half before breaking down the left wing and cutting inside where he couldn’t see an open pass so he went for the strike himself. The ball took a deflection which sent it past the keeper for his first goal of the season.

United’s domination of the second half was then sealed in stoppage time when Gabriele Biancheri spread the ball to Mather on the left wing to cut inside past his marker and finish into the top right corner.

The 4-1 win sends United through to the semi-finals where they will meet local rivals Manchester City next weekend.

United: Harrison, Ogunneye, Jackson, Kukonki, Murray, Devaney (Rowe 79), T. Fletcher, Scanlon, Kone (J. Fletcher 90+3), Mather, Wheatley (Biancheri 88)

Unused subs: Murdock, Munro

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