Manchester United kept up their title hopes as they dispatched 10-man Sunderland at the Academy of Light on Saturday.
A goal in each half from Tahith Chong was enough for the visitors to seal the points on Wearside, despite Robbie Dunne initially levelling the U18 Premier League fixture.
TRIO MISS OUT
Benji Kimpioka, Jack Diamond and Jake Hackett were not included in the starting line-up as it’s expected they will be involved in Sunday’s under-23s match at Eppleton Colliery Welfare. The trio all featured in last weekend’s FA Youth Cup tie at Watford, which saw the Black Cats exit the competition after a narrow 1-0 defeat.
BACK TO THE LEAGUE
Sunderland’s fortunes didn’t alter as they reverted back to their league campaign as title hopefuls United clinched all the spoils. After an even opening where Sunderland enjoyed large spells of the ball, the visitors made the breakthrough on 32 minutes when Chong converted a penalty. Ethan Laid was felled after a powerful run into the box and Chong confidently slotted the ball past Anthony Patterson.
DUNNE TO PERFECTION
United’s lead only lasted seven minutes, though. Having looked assured defensively throughout the opening period, Jordan Hickey broke free through the defensive lines before unselfishly squaring the ball to Dunne for him to slot home.
A DEVIL IN THE PACK
United didn’t seem too fazed by Sunderland’s leveller and picked up where they left off in the second 45, with the Black Cats once again forced to defend deep and in numbers. And eventually the lads’ frustration to dealing with long spells of pressure told when Scothern tripped Largie Ramazani before being shown a red card by the referee. Now with the man advantage Manchester United lay siege to Sunderland’s goal, sensing a winner was near. And so it proved with 11 minutes left to play. Ramazani opened up Sunderland’s defence with a slipped pass through to Chong, who did the rest to fire home his second of the afternoon and secure the points for United.
Sunderland U18: Patterson, Young, Mumba, Edmundsson, Kokolo, Hickey, Howard, Leonard (Greenwood, 64), Connelly (Evans, 74), Scothern, Dunne (Slack, 71).
Subs: Newman, Devine.
Manchester United U18: Fojticek, Dunne, Laird, O’Connor, Levitt, William (Greenwood, 60), Bughai (McGhee, 83), Arnau Martinez, Chong, Tanner, Baars, (Ramazani, 60)
Subs: Thompson, Barnard