Manu80
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Joined: 19 Jun 2007
Posts: 222
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 Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 9:16 pm Post subject: U18s: United 2 Brighton 1 |
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| Quote: | United came from a goal down to earn a deserved 2-1 win against Brighton in the FA Youth Cup third round on Thursday.
Anton Bryan and Federico Macheda got the goals to see the Reds through, but it looked at one point as if Brighton might snatch an unlikely victory.
United set off at a quick pace and had the first real chance after 15 minutes at the Victoria Stadium, Northwich. Danny Welbeck’s flick-on from a corner found skipper Corry Evans free, whose header was powerful but straight at the Brighton goalkeeper.
Five minutes later defender Scott Moffatt went agonisingly close with a header from Magnus Eikrem’s precise cross.
The Reds looked sharp and had played the better of the football, but Brighton scored against the run of play when defender Lee Bryant scrambled home a corner after 29 minutes.
United’s impressive strikers Welbeck and Macheda were causing havoc for the Brighton defence. Their interchanging play conjured an opening for England U17 international Welbeck, but he didn’t connect with his shot, which drifted wide.
If the Reds were unlucky to be a goal down at the break, they were even unluckier not to have equalised through midfielder Danny Drinkwater a minute after the restart. Arriving late in the box onto Danny Galbraith’s left-wing cross, Drinkwater cracked his shot against the post.
Ten minutes later Drinkwater struck the other post. Lurking on the edge of the area, he chested down Moffatt’s cross and hit a sweet left-foot volley that cannoned back off the upright.
With fifteen minutes of the match remaining United looked to be heading for an early and undeserved exit, despite dominating the entire second half. But after a prolonged period camped in the Brighton final third, the pressure finally paid off. Substitute Anton Bryan turned well on the edge of the box and fired his shot into the bottom corner. It was nothing more than United deserved.
And five minutes later a second arrived courtesy of Macheda. The Italian striker raced through on goal and was brought down by the goalkeeper. Macheda dusted himself down and, after seeing his spot-kick saved, scored at the second attempt.
For a while it looked like the Reds might not make it through to the fourth round, but Paul McGuinness’ young side showed character, determination to earn the win and a fourth round tie at home to Carlisle United.
United: Amos; Moffatt, Strickland, James, Dudgeon; Eikrem (Stewart 82), C.Evans, Drinkwater, Galbraith (Bryan 55); Welbeck, Macheda. |
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