UEFA Youth League Report: Zalgiris 2 United 5
Manchester United Under-19s return home with a three-goal lead in the UEFA Youth League second round after an entertaining first leg win over Zalgiris in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Making history as the first United side to play in the Baltic state, the young Reds dominated proceedings for much of the game and earned a four-goal advantage. The pick of the goals was Ethan Williams’s wonderful swerving effort from the edge of the box.
Williams netted twice, as did striker Gabriele Biancheri, with substitute James Scanlon also on the scoresheet but a frenetic final few minutes saw goals traded, leaving the strong home support elated, despite the final 5-2 scoreline ahead of the second leg.
Having taken kick-off, United hardly allowed their hosts a touch of the ball during the opening 45 minutes, whereas right-winger Ashton Missin saw plenty of it. The no.76 was a constant threat down his side, first crossing 90 seconds into the action and regularly delivering with quality.
Such was the nature of United’s dominance that the 4,000-strong home crowd — nearly a full house at the LFF Stadium — provided a raucous response to Zalgiris’ every tackle and interception. But United would regain possession with speed.
Jaydan Kamason was the first to go close, seeing a shot blocked after good work down the left by Ethan Williams. A free-kick by the latter fizzed across goal, but captain Tyler Fredricson couldn’t connect to turn it home.
Although they enjoyed little possession, Zalgiris remained fairly resolute in defence for long periods of the first half and began to show some threat on the counter-attack before United finally earned just reward. Kamason crossed excellently for in-form striker Biancheri, who headed home for his 10th club goal this season.
Jack Fletcher shot over from range to conclude an uneven but low-scoring first half, after which, United flew into an extended lead.
Williams’s deflected shot came five minutes into the second period, the move initiated by left-back Godwill Kukonki. Four minutes later, Biancheri netted his second, impressively finishing from a tight angle.
Captain Tyler Fredricson had a header comfortably saved before Zalgiris began to threaten with greater intensity on the break, at which point Lawrence replaced Missin and Jacob Devaney with Scanlon and Finley McAllister. Shea Lacey and Victor Musa soon joined them.
An excellently struck volley from Danielius Velicka, on the turn, forced Will Murdock into his first real save of the day. The United keeper maintained concentration to deny Zalgiris a goal back.
Williams provided some sparkle to the night with an excellent edge-of-the-box strike that swerved both ways before finding the top right corner.
He and Lacey both searched for a fifth with long-range efforts but none were quite so good. Instead, the hosts had a moment to cheer with one back. Vilius Kondrotas latched onto a neat through ball and beat Murdock with power.
United seemed to have made amends when substitute Scanlon found the back of the net through a crowd of bodies, but Zalgiris hit back themselves in a frenetic end to the game. Romualdas Jansonas turned home with only seconds remaining to end the scoring at 5-2.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Murdock; Kamason, Jackson, Fredricson (c), Kukonki; Devaney (McAllister 61), Fitzgerald (Baumann 75); Missin (Scanlon 61), J. Fletcher (Lacey 67), Williams; Biancheri (Musa 67).
Subs not used: Byrne-Hughes, Armer, Munro, T. Fletcher.
Goals: Biancheri 33,54 Williams 51,77 Scanlon 90+2.
Booked: Kamason, Fitzgerald, Williams, Biancheri.