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FA Youth Cup
Some stats from last night's game.......
Manchester United / Charlton Athletic
Shots on target 7 / 1
Shots off target 4 / 0
Shots blocked 7 / 2
Goals 2 / 1
Corners 7 / 2
Crosses 17 / 6
Off-side 1 / 2
Free kicks 18 / 15
Yellow Cards 2 / 4
Red Cards 0 / 0
As you can see, United had most of the possession and Zieler had nothing to do except pick the ball out of the net in the first half and deal with some crosses in the second.
Both teams emerged from the tunnel with United in their traditional colours and sporting black armbands to commorate Munich. Charlton played in a white strip. The pitch was very poor and extremely bumpy and the rain pelted down right from the kick-off. United defended the Stretford End in the first half.
Team: Zieler, Gray, K. Lee, Cathcart, Shawcross, Rose, Mullan, Gibson (c), Brandy, Campbell, S. Evans. Subs: Burns, Amos, Hewson, Fagan, Cleverley
United played a traditional 442 with Brandy and Campbell up front. This meant that Sean Evans was used as a left winger. Darron Gibson returned from a wrist injury to replace Sam Hewson. Although United had the better of the first 15 minutes, we couldn't get our passing game together and reverted to playing the long ball. Charlton came back into the game and started getting some decent possession. Then on 22 minutes, the right winger beat Kieran Lee and crossed the ball into the penalty area for the centre-forward to head home. Although a good goal, we should have stopped the cross. Zieler had no chance. Charlton were content to break up the play and gave away many free-kicks. In the first half United had only one shot on target and were not playing well.
Half time 0-1
At the start of the second half, United started to play their passing game. After a disappointing first period, Gibson started to take more control and Danny Rose came into the game more. Within four minutes, a defensive slip allowed Febien Brandy to run at goal and slip the ball past the keeper. 1-1!
The goal seemed to settle the Reds and we started taking more and more control. Charlton's defence was very shaky and we cut through on a number of occasions. Sean Evans had an opportunity of making it 2-1 when he was clean through on goal but put his chip wide.
On 65 minutes, Hewson replaced Brandy and played just behind Campbell in a 4411 type formation. United were now starting to play some decent football and on 78 minutes, a blocked/shot/deflection (?).....need to see it again on TV.......from Campbell fooled the keeper and the ball bounced into the roof of the net. 2-1! United were now well on top. Gibson and Rose were both booked for fouls (ref was a bit petty as it wasn't a dirty game). Charlton put on three substitutions in a bid for a late equaliser, and although they had a bit of pressure in the last 5 minutes, the United defence was not in any danger. Burns replaced S. Evans on 90 minutes as United held onto their lead.
Overall we deserved to win without playing all that well. Obviously the pitch and weather didn't help. Best players for United were Gray and Cathcart in the first half.....in addition, Brandy and Kieran Lee played well in the second.
Not sure why Brandy was replaced, but remember he has not long returned from a broken leg and has not played that much football.
Finally, Jon Evans is still out with a groin injury and will be missing for another 4/5 weeks. Corry Evans should be back in the next couple of weeks...
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