Arsenal 2 - 1 Manchester United
Credit:
Tallaght Stadium was the venue as Arsenal reserves defeated their Manchester United counterparts 2-1 in the second match of the Platinum One Challenge.
Arsenal completely dominated the first half both in terms of possession and chances on goal. The Londoners used their superior pace to muscle United off the ball- meaning the Red Devils never enjoyed more than a few passes in succession.
The Gunners opened the scoring on eighteen minutes with a Jay Thomas penalty. Scott Wootton fouled the striker on the left side of his penalty area, and Thomas stepped up to send Ben Amos the wrong way and score.
The rest of the half continued in much the same manner, with Arsenal missing a few chances to go 2-0 up.
Benik Afobe slid his shot inches wide on the half hour mark for the Gunners after Craig Eastmond played him through with a beautiful weighted pass.
The Red Devils seemed completely unable to match the sheer pace and strength of their Arsenal counterparts and consistently ceded possession to the Gunners.
United did have a few chances, including one in the thirty-third minute through the creativity of Tom Cleverley. The winger, marked by many as a player set for promotion to the first team, put in a superb cross for Will Keane who headed the ball straight at Arsenal 'keeper James Shea.
Arsenal striker Afobe again had a chance a minute before the interval, but Ben Amos saved with his feet and the sides went in to the break on even terms.
Man United started the half brightly, but Arsenal promptly re-asserted their superiority just as it seemed United may put their stamp on the match.
In the fifty-first minute, Arsenal took advantage of United's search for an equaliser to get their second goal.
A United attack was repelled by Havard Nordtveit and the ball was quickly brought forward. Brazillian winger Wellington Silva showed his skill by gliding past the full-back, taking advantage of United's rigid defensive line, before sliding the ball past Ben Amos.
Man United could only blame their own failures for conceding, as their own sloppy passing was at the root of most Arsenal breakaways.
Jay Thomas was a constant threat to the United defence, going close in the sixty-fourth minute after a fine run.
For all of Arsenal's possession though, they never quite killed the match off. United eventually found a route back into the match in the seventy-first minute, against the run of play.
Federico Macheda, after a run in to the Arsenal penalty area, shot hard at James Shea. Shea could only parry the shot, allowing Macheda to finish with a looping shot.
Arsenal attempted to restore their two-goal lead immediately, but Jay Thomas was unable to get a shot on target after he cut inside the United full-back on the break.
Tom Cleverley had a chance with nine minutes remianing to level the match again- his curving shot was deflected out by Eastmond before it could reach the goal though.
Substitute Nico Vennaris had a late chance for Arsenal, but shot straight at Amos from close range- meaning the match finished 2-1 to the Gunners.
Arsenal can go on to win the Platinum One Challenge should they defeat or draw against Shamrock Rovers, who lost 3-0 to United last weekend, on Sunday.
Manchester United: Ben Amos, Fabio Da Silva [Marnick Vermeijl '22], Joe Dudgeon, Scott Wootton, Oliver Gill, Tom Cleverley, Oliver Norwood [Reece Brown '72], Federico Macheda, Will Keane, Magnus Eikrem, Robbie Brady [Nicky Ajose '59] Subs Not Used: Conor Devlin
Arsenal: James Shea, Havard Nordveit, Tom Cruise, Craig Eastmond, Gavin Hoyte, Ignaci Miguel, Wellington Silva [Mark Randall '59], Benik Afore [Nico Vennaris '83], Chuks Aneke [Roarie Deagon '59], Henri Lansbury [Cedric Evina '67], Jay Thomas Subs Not Used: Daniel Boateng, Emiliano Martinez
Referee: Richie Winter
Attendance: 1100 (unnoficial estimate)
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Jay Thomas
Arsenal completely dominated the first half both in terms of possession and chances on goal. The Londoners used their superior pace to muscle United off the ball- meaning the Red Devils never enjoyed more than a few passes in succession.
The Gunners opened the scoring on eighteen minutes with a Jay Thomas penalty. Scott Wootton fouled the striker on the left side of his penalty area, and Thomas stepped up to send Ben Amos the wrong way and score.
The rest of the half continued in much the same manner, with Arsenal missing a few chances to go 2-0 up.
Benik Afobe slid his shot inches wide on the half hour mark for the Gunners after Craig Eastmond played him through with a beautiful weighted pass.
The Red Devils seemed completely unable to match the sheer pace and strength of their Arsenal counterparts and consistently ceded possession to the Gunners.
United did have a few chances, including one in the thirty-third minute through the creativity of Tom Cleverley. The winger, marked by many as a player set for promotion to the first team, put in a superb cross for Will Keane who headed the ball straight at Arsenal 'keeper James Shea.
Arsenal striker Afobe again had a chance a minute before the interval, but Ben Amos saved with his feet and the sides went in to the break on even terms.
Man United started the half brightly, but Arsenal promptly re-asserted their superiority just as it seemed United may put their stamp on the match.
In the fifty-first minute, Arsenal took advantage of United's search for an equaliser to get their second goal.
A United attack was repelled by Havard Nordtveit and the ball was quickly brought forward. Brazillian winger Wellington Silva showed his skill by gliding past the full-back, taking advantage of United's rigid defensive line, before sliding the ball past Ben Amos.
Man United could only blame their own failures for conceding, as their own sloppy passing was at the root of most Arsenal breakaways.
Jay Thomas was a constant threat to the United defence, going close in the sixty-fourth minute after a fine run.
For all of Arsenal's possession though, they never quite killed the match off. United eventually found a route back into the match in the seventy-first minute, against the run of play.
Federico Macheda, after a run in to the Arsenal penalty area, shot hard at James Shea. Shea could only parry the shot, allowing Macheda to finish with a looping shot.
Arsenal attempted to restore their two-goal lead immediately, but Jay Thomas was unable to get a shot on target after he cut inside the United full-back on the break.
Tom Cleverley had a chance with nine minutes remianing to level the match again- his curving shot was deflected out by Eastmond before it could reach the goal though.
Substitute Nico Vennaris had a late chance for Arsenal, but shot straight at Amos from close range- meaning the match finished 2-1 to the Gunners.
Arsenal can go on to win the Platinum One Challenge should they defeat or draw against Shamrock Rovers, who lost 3-0 to United last weekend, on Sunday.
Manchester United: Ben Amos, Fabio Da Silva [Marnick Vermeijl '22], Joe Dudgeon, Scott Wootton, Oliver Gill, Tom Cleverley, Oliver Norwood [Reece Brown '72], Federico Macheda, Will Keane, Magnus Eikrem, Robbie Brady [Nicky Ajose '59] Subs Not Used: Conor Devlin
Arsenal: James Shea, Havard Nordveit, Tom Cruise, Craig Eastmond, Gavin Hoyte, Ignaci Miguel, Wellington Silva [Mark Randall '59], Benik Afore [Nico Vennaris '83], Chuks Aneke [Roarie Deagon '59], Henri Lansbury [Cedric Evina '67], Jay Thomas Subs Not Used: Daniel Boateng, Emiliano Martinez
Referee: Richie Winter
Attendance: 1100 (unnoficial estimate)
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Jay Thomas
About Niall Farrell
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