Manchester United 2
Skouted FC 2
By Joel Bell
As supporters filled the stand to watch future stars, Manchester United and Skouted FC took to the pitch. United had the first real chance of the game from a corner when Jayden Ngwashi directed his header wide of the post. It wasn’t long before the opener came, a mistake at the back for Skouted led to Bassirou Nkoto Abdoulaye slotting it home along the ground to give United the advantage.
Skouted tried to grab one back a few moments later when Solarin Kolawole Adeyinka tried his efforts from outside the box, but a stretched Zac Watson in the Manchester United net managed to get a hand on it and put it out for a corner. Kolawole Adeyinka came again down the right hand side towards goal, United’s Number 3, Connor Thorley, put in a fantastic sliding challenge to stop any danger.
The Red Devils could’ve had a second when Junior Brown hammered the ball towards goal, but a brilliant fingertip save from Bobby Kay deflected it onto the crossbar and out for a corner kick.
At the other end on thirty-two minutes, Alfie Kelly shot and in the midst of the scramble, referee Joe Mullan, pointed to the spot and awarded a penalty for handball. Leon Bergin sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to equalize before the break.
Just like the first half, the second half started with an early goal. This time though for the men in black. Man United failed to clear the ball in the box and it fell to the feet of Chinonso Eze who hammered it home to send Skouted into the lead.
Manchester United did everything they could to get back into the game. Douka Nkoto Abdoulaye played through the skillful Bendito Mantato who cut inside to his left foot, but couldn’t get enough power behind the shot and it was comfortably saved by Kay. After another few attempts, the boys in Red got their goal. The substitute Neithen Barbosa squared the ball across the six-yard box and waiting was Louie Kynaston-Bradbury who tapped it into the empty net.
The additional five minutes added on was the most exciting spell of the game. Skouted were through on goal, only to be stopped by Thorley who made an impressive sliding tackle to keep his side in it. United responded to this with a number of chances. Great link up play saw Barbosa pinging the ball out to Kynaston-Bradbury on the wing, who then crossed it back into Barbosa. Bobby Kay was switched on and caught the number 11’s headed attempt.
Edward Ibrovic-fletcher had a chance to win the game for Manchester United when he was through on goal, however his shot was drilled wide of the post. The final chance for United came when Bassirou Nkoto Abdoulaye cut inside and fired the ball goal-wards, just missing the top corner.
Both teams are in action tomorrow for their final group game when Manchester United face Intercontinental in Limavady while Skouted travel to Ballymoney to play County Fermanagh.
Report by Joel Bell