Barclays Under-21 Premier League
11 February 2013
Moss Lane, Altrincham
MANCHESTER UNITED 2
(Powell 15, Lingard 22)
ARSENAL 2
(Akpom 11,30)
U21s: United 2 Arsenal 2
United's Under-21s fought out an absorbing 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Moss Lane with all four goals coming inside the first half.
Nick Powell and Jesse Lingard scored for the Reds with Chuba Akpom netting twice for the North Londoners as the two teams put on an entertaining show on a tacky pitch.
A fast-paced opening failed to provide any real goalscoring openings, although Frederic Veseli fired in one dangerous centre and Reece Brown did well to block a Martin Angha cross at the other end. The first goal soon arrived, though, when United were guilty of conceding possession in the left-back area and Thomas Eisfeld's touch allowed Akpom to beat Michele Fornasier before ramming a near-post finish over Ben Amos.
The Reds' response was swift with Adnan Januzaj whipping in a left-wing free-kick after being fouled and Powell nipped in to nod home, even though Lukasz Fabianski got a hand to it. Isaac Hayden had to clear a Tom Thorpe header from a Januzaj corner as the hosts took a grip on proceedings.
On 22 minutes, a wonderful counter-attack strike edged United in front with Ryan Tunnicliffe releasing Powell, who showed great strength and patience to feed Januzaj and the Belgian's clever left-footed pass into the path of Lingard was finished stylishly by the winger.
After Thorpe was unable to convert a Januzaj free-kick, Tunnicliffe was desperately unlucky when his shot clipped the bar after good work by Lingard and Marnick Vermijl. Although the Reds looked in control, Arsenal hit back to level the scores on the half-hour mark. Conor Henderson's swerving shot deceived Amos and Akpom pounced on the rebound to net his second of the night.
Akpom escaped with a handball inside his own box and Serge Gnabry fired wide as the teams went in at the break at 2-2 with Sean McGinty replacing the injured Veseli. Things then became rather scrappy in the second half with both sides showing plenty of tenacity and aggression.
Henderson's free-kick flicked wide off the wall and Powell should have earned a penalty after being flattened inside the box by Sead Hajrovic. There was a scare at the other end when Amos clattered into Akpom as he chased his hat-trick with the keeper picking up a yellow card for catching the striker with his elbow.
Tunnicliffe was off target with an ambitious raking drive as United searched for a winner while Januzaj, Lingard and Powell continued to look bright going forward. However, the Gunners proved they were just as capable of scoring again when danger-man Akpom headed over the top from close range under pressure from McGinty.
Januzaj switched to the right flank and, looking at home at this level now, was unfortunate to see a drive deflect and loop behind the goal before the Belgian played McGinty in down the left and the left-back's attempted cross drifted dangerously onto the top of the net.
Lingard chipped a shot to Fabianski and Amos watched a Gnabry free-kick fly wide as the match remained all-square, which was probably a fair result in conclusion.
United: Amos; Veseli (McGinty 36), Fornasier, Brown, Vermijl; Januzaj, Thorpe, Tunnicliffe, Cole, Lingard; Powell. Subs not used: Sutherland, Blackett, Lawrence, Ekangamene.