U21s Semi Final: United vs. Liverpool

Brightonian

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Not sure what Januzaj did wrong there. Got jostled by two 'Pool players, took a load of afters from them, but he never actually responded himself.
 

Dion

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pisses me off when referees don't have the first clue what just happened so they book both players.
Was the right thing to do there. Better to cool the game down there and then than let it go and watch it boil over.
 

Brightonian

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Definitely seems like the ref is going soft on Liverpool now because that red card probably wasn't deserved. Not sure what Lingard did wrong winning the ball there.
 

Brightonian

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Excellent, Pereira on. Astonishing how quickly he's climbed the ranks since he joined us. How old is he now?
 

Drainy

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Was the right thing to do there. Better to cool the game down there and then than let it go and watch it boil over.
yeah I get that refs feel the need to 'manage the game', but it isn't following the rules. Januzaj did almost nothing wrong.
 

Brightonian

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Referee seems to be making it up as he goes along now. None of these decision actually have anything to do with the rules - he's just trying to appease the Liverpool players to calm things down.
 

gooDevil

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Under-21s: United 3 Liverpool 0

Manchester United's youngsters stormed past Liverpool 3-0 at Old Trafford to reach the final of the Barclays Under-21 Premier League with Larnell Cole bagging a hat-trick.

The Merseysiders protested about some of the decisions that did not go their way, and arguably had a case with Jon Flanagan's second-half sending off, but there seemed little doubt about the award of two penalties, that were both converted by Cole.

With United continuing to create the better chances, Cole smashed in his third to set the seal on a convincing victory for the home side to the delight of almost 3,000 fans.

In front of the watching Sir Alex Ferguson, the Reds made an instant impression but the opening quarter of an hour became a rather cagey affair. Captain Tom Thorpe made a couple of important early blocks and formed a formidable barrier at the heart of the defence with Michael Keane.

A glorious pass by Adnan Januzaj, bent with his left foot into the path of Tom Lawrence, created the opener with Stephen Sama bringing down the Welshman. Sama escaped with a yellow card, having been sent off in both of the league fixtures against United this term, and Cole calmly ignored some blatant gamesmanship from Adam Morgan to send Danny Ward the wrong way from the spot.

Seven minutes later, advantage was played when Conor Coady fouled Charni Ekangamene but Jon Flanagan then shoved Lawrence inside the box. Cole took on the responsibility again from 12 yards, despite Jesse Lingard offering to take the penalty, and made the right call as he nervelessly found the opposite corner of the net with supreme coolness. There were few clear-cut chances created in open play in the first half and even Morgan's wild shot wide came after Coady looked guilty of a two-footed tackle on Thorpe in the build-up that went completely unpunished. Liverpool improved after the restart but Krisztian Adorjan missed their best opening when scooping over a Jordon Ibe pass.

United still carried the greater threat, even if enjoying less possession, with Sama's shove on Janzuaj deemed unworthy of a third penalty and a rapid break leading to Lingard forcing Ward to tip over the bar following good work by Lawrence.

So it was no surprise when Cole whistled in his hat-trick, with the aid of a slight deflection, after a scramble from a Januzaj corner, that seemed to include a Sama handball, before Thorpe laid invitingly back to Cole on the edge of the area.

Two minutes later and the visitors lost their heads with Teixeira booked for clattering into Januzaj and Flanagan harshly sent off for kicking the ball against the grounded Belgian. Things got even spicier for a spell and Januzaj picked up a booking himself but the fact was the Liverpool players struggled to handle him all evening.

Cole was unlucky not to add a fourth when his deflected shot looped off target and Lingard had yet another penalty shout turned down while the Merseysiders threatened from a couple of set-pieces but never really tested Ben Amos.

Under-18 trio Ben Pearson, who quickly displayed a fantastic touch, Liam Grimshaw and Andreas Pereira got a taste of the action as Warren Joyce's side closed out a fabulous win to set up another Old Trafford date with Tottenham in the final on Monday 20 May.

United: Amos; Vermijl, Thorpe, M.Keane, James; Cole (A.Pereira 84), Ekangamene, Tunnicliffe, Januzaj (Grimshaw 80), Lingard; Lawrence (Pearson 75). Subs: Sutherland, Wilson.



http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-An...nchester-united-v-liverpool-match-report.aspx