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Manchester United U21s hosted Leicester Metropolis U21s on Monday afternoon at Leigh Sports activities Village.
Adam Lawrence’s aspect seemed to proceed their shiny begin to the season following final week’s 5-0 dispatching of Ipswich City.
The younger Pink Devils have been bolstered by the provision of Shea Lacey, who stepped down after being an unused substitute within the first crew’s win on Sunday.
First half
United began brightly, with Amir Ibragimov flashing a ball throughout the face of objective that was simply out of the attain of Ashton Missin on the again submit. Missin stored the ball alive, dribbling again inside and skipping between two defenders earlier than rolling his effort huge of the left submit.
Area was discovered down the best wing once more shortly after; this time, Jaydan Kamason centred for Ibragimov, however the United quantity 9 utterly whiffed his try as he missed the ball.
It was solely a matter of time earlier than United made the breakthrough, and Shea Lacey was the one to transform within the 14th minute.
Jack Fletcher opened up play with a go out huge to Lacey, who reduce inside and fired from 30 yards into the underside left nook, leaving the keeper rooted to the spot.
What a terrific objective @Shealacey10 #MUFC #MUAcademy #SheaLacey pic.twitter.com/pZu7sg0Hge
— Benjamin Brazil (@bennymufc) August 31, 2026
For the second match in a row, Ibragimov was denied what seemed like a stonewall penalty when he chopped contained in the defender and was taken down, however the referee waved play on.
In opposition to the run of play, Leicester equalised within the twenty seventh minute from a fast nook that caught United napping, leading to a free header on the again submit.
Simply seconds after the restart, Missin went on a 50-yard cost by way of the center of the park earlier than shedding to Lacey, who dispatched his second of the match between the defender’s legs.
In stoppage time, United made it 3-1 when Tynan Thompson beat his marker down the left wing and in the reduction of to Ibragimov, who was ready on the penalty spot to complete with a deflected shot.
Second half
The guests got here out sizzling from the break with a fast counter-attack, however Will Murdock was as much as the duty and made his solely save of the match.
Leicester switched to a again three within the second half, which noticed much less area given to the United assault but in addition meant Leicester supplied little risk on the different finish as United cruised by way of the latter phases of the match.
It was not till the 86th minute that substitute JJ Gabriel utilized a little bit of magic to bop previous two defenders and discover the far proper nook to offer United the 4-1 win.
JJ Gabriel objective for Manchester United’s U21s Vs Leicester Metropolis within the Premier League 2 #MUFC #MUAcademy #JJGabriel #ManchesterUnited #ManUtd #PL2 pic.twitter.com/ELWGl7e1VG
— Benjamin Brazil (@bennymufc) August 31, 2026
United now have practically a two-week break earlier than they’re again in motion to tackle crosstown rivals Manchester Metropolis on the twelfth of September.
Match information
United: Murdock, Kamason, Munro (Mills 75), Armer, Mantato (Kukonki 75), T. Fletcher, Thwaites, Lacey (Gabriel 60), J. Fletcher, Missin (Thompson 40), Ibragimov (Musa 75)
Unused subs: Byrne-Hughes, Orozco
Targets: Lacey 14, 29, Ibragimov 45+2, Gabriel 86
Characteristic picture Carl Recine by way of Getty Pictures
