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Manchester United U18s travelled to Finch Farm on Saturday morning to take on Everton.
It was a rematch for both clubs who also met on Friday night in the PL2 play-offs where Manchester United came out 4-2 victors.
Similar to the U21s, it was Everton who took the lead through Ray Robert who found the far right corner past Will Murdock.
Adam Lawrence had to turn to the bench early on due to an injury to Jacob Devaney who featured for the U21 the night before. Shea Lacey was his replacement.
United’s free kick maestro Jim Thwaites levelled it up in the 35th minute with a magnificent direct free kick into the top left corner.
The Red Devils controlled possession throughout and took the lead late in the half when Zach Baumann found Victor Musa in the area, who finished with his left boot.
But United’s lead was short-lived as an unfortunate own goal from Albert Mills left the score deadlocked at 2-2 going into the break.
In the second half, Gabriele Biancheri, who also featured for the U21s on Friday night, gave United the lead just before the hour mark. Everton couldn’t clear from United’s corner before Biancheri bundled it in from close range to extend his scoring record.
Despite having control of the ball for the majority of the match, the young Red Devils couldn’t maintain their lead as they let it slip within five minutes again.
Malik Olayiwola made it 3-3 with his finish into the bottom right corner from inside the box.
Olayiwola then doubled his tally just three minutes later when he was found free in the box again.
With four goals from just three shots on target, Everton looked set to complete a smash and grab until deep into stoppage time.
United snatched a late point through substitute Samuel Lusale, who came off the bench to score from a tight angle on the right byline after receiving the ball from Lacey.
The point was too little too late for United’s U18 side in their title race with rivals Manchester City who extended their lead at the top of the table with a win over Derby County to secure first place.
United: Murdock, Munro, Mills, Armer, Overy, Devaney (Lacey 34), Ibragimov, Musa, Baumann (Bailey 71), Thwaites, Biancheri (Lusale 61)
Unused subs: Byrne-Hughes, Gabriel
Feature image James Fearn via Getty Images
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