Manchester United U21s played a behind-closed-doors matchplaceholder image
Manchester United U21s played a behind-closed-doors match | The PFA
Man Utd faced the PFA Pre-Season squad in a behind-closed-doors match at Carrington.
Shea Lacey impressed as Manchester United U21s drew 1-1 with the PFA Pre-Season squad at Carrington on Tuesday lunchtime.
A youthful United side held their own against a team comprising out-of-contract professional footballers who are all fighting for contracts after the close of the summer transfer window.
Diego Leon was handed his first start for the U21s in the match, while Amir Ibragimov captained the side just days after he scored the winner in the Manchester derby at Premier League 2 level. Travis Binnion made eight changes from the weekend win, with Will Murdock, Jayce Fitzgerald and Sam Mather the only players to keep their places in the line up.
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United dominated possession throughout most of the match, but it was the PFA team that took the lead when former Sunderland striker Conor Wickham scored a stunning goal from the halfway line. The 32-year-old latched onto a loose ball and caught goalkeeper Murdock off his line with a sensational strike that showcased his immense quality.
Wickham almost doubled the lead when he saw a ferocious effort saved from Murdock just before half-time, but United went in level when the lively Lacey capped an excellent individual display with a beautiful goal. The 18-year-old received the ball on the edge of the box after a corner kick and cut inside on his left foot before he fired a shot in off the far post.
United made seven changes to their side after the hour mark, with Lacey and Leon two of those replaced as a youthful side got even younger, with 16-year-old pair Junior Brown and Jariyah Shah two of those introduced. Fellow substitute Jaydan Kamason went close to a winner when his volley was blocked in the box, and from the resulting corner, Albert Mills headed just over the bar.
Binnion's boys might feel hard done by that they didn't go on to win the match, but there can be plenty of positives to take from the manner in which they played against a team of seasoned professionals.
United starting XI: Murdock, Overy, Mills, Watson, Leon, Thwaites, Fitzgerald, Ibragimov, Lacey, Mather, Musa. Subs (all used): Ngwashi, Helafu, Fletcher, Shah, Kamason, Bailey, Brown.
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