Derby County Under-23s fell to defeat against Manchester United
as they were beaten 5-2 at Leigh Sports Village.
Alvaro Fernandez gave the hosts the first half lead as he fired home at the third attempt, but Derby came out fighting in the second half and clawed their way back into the game.
It was exceptional play from Osazee Aghatise to create the goal as he weaved past three men and tucked the ball into the bottom corner to draw the Rams level.
But, United displayed their quality in the final half an hour as they scored three times to wrap up the game. Hannibal converted from the penalty spot after Will Grewal-Pollard fouled his man, whilst goals from Noam Emeran, Charlie Savage and Shola Shoretire put United 5-1 ahead.
Bartosz Cybulski did score a consolation in the final minute of additional time but it proved to be a tough evening in the north west for Pat Lyons’ side.
United could have taken the lead as early as the first minute as Derby were forced into some last-ditch defending. Both Zidane Iqbal and Hannibal had efforts on goal before Shoretire found Savage 12 yards out but his effort was blocked.
The home side kept up the pressure as Iqbal fired wide from close range, whilst Shoretire also saw an effort fly off target.
You felt like the opening goal of the game was coming, and it did midway through the half as left-back Fernandez put the home side ahead.
And he had three bites of the cherry, too, as his initial effort 25 yards was palmed straight back into his path. He was denied again on the second attempt from trialist goalkeeper Harry Seadon, but with the ball rolling to go, Fernandez followed the ball in and gave the home side the lead.
The Rams struggled to get out their own half as United suffocated them into errors which weren’t fully capitalised on. Iqbal and Shoretire both got in good areas but saw tame shots saved, whilst Emeran saw an effort fly wide before the half time interval.
Derby did almost equalise against the run of play in the final minute of the half as Tyree Wilson threaded a through ball to Aghatise but the midfielder was denied by United stopper Ondrej Mastney as they led at the break.
The Rams were forced into an early change at the start of the second half as Max Bardell looked to tweak his hamstring and was replaced by Rhys Brailsford, and moments later, Derby managed to draw level.
A piece of individual brilliance from Aghatise took him away from three defenders before he found the bottom corner, giving Mastny no chance, to equalise for the Rams.
And they had a good opportunity from the kick off as Louie Watson was afforded space in the middle, he found Bartosz Cybulski but his effort was blocked.
However, that scoreline wasn’t to last too long as the Red Devils were presented with an opportunity to regain the lead from the penalty spot. Will Grewal-Pollard was adjudged to have fouled his man in the box and Hannibal stepped up and put United back ahead.
And they put the game seemingly out of sight with just under 20 minutes of the game remaining as Emeran added a third. It was good work from Fernandez on the right which created the goal as he got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Emeran to strike home.
Derby continued to show fight as Brailsford and Aghatise were both denied by Mastney, but United would net their fourth goal of the game with 10 minutes remaining as Savage headed past Seadon following Fernandez’s cross.
There was time for a further two goals in the game as Shoretire grabbed United’s fifth of the game, whilst Cybulski scored in the final minute of additional time, but it was no more than a consolation as Derby fell to defeat on a tough evening.
Manchester United Under-23s: Mastny, Wellens, Fernandez, Fish, Hardley, Savage (Oyedele 88’), Shoretire, Iqbal, Mellor (C) (Norkett 84’), Hannibal, Emeran (Stanley 78’).
Substitutes Not Used: Vitek, Aljofree.
Derby County Under-23s: Seadon, McDonald (Robinson 72’), Grewell-Pollard, Clarke, Bardell (C) (Brailsford 50’), Grant, Shonibare (Borkovic 80’), Watson, Cybulski, Wilson, Aghatise.
Substitutes Not Used: Evans, Matthews.
