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Manchester United u19s spent the weekend within the Netherlands as they took half within the annual Otten Innovation Cup, hosted by PSV Eindhoven.
The Innovation within the identify comes from the progressive new concepts that are trialled within the event. The rule modifications included substitutions on the fly, sin bins, and dribbling from set items.
After ending sixth in final yr’s version, United had been trying to enhance on their place on this yr’s event.
Utilizing a Swiss mannequin strategy, all 10 rivals fashioned a single desk however solely performed three matches within the group stage to find out the knockout fixtures.
First up, United met with SL Benfica the place regardless of trying the higher facet all through, Adam Lawrence’s facet couldn’t make the breakthrough. It got here again to hang-out United as Benfica grabbed a late winner with the final kick of the sport.
Within the second match, United confronted off with Paris Saint-Germain. In one other recreation of dominance, United took their possibilities this time with Tyler Fletcher powerfully heading dwelling from James Bailey’s cross to provide United the preliminary lead.
Jack Fletcher then danced into the field earlier than laying the ball off to Zach Baumann for a straightforward faucet in to provide United a 2-0 victory.
Within the remaining group stage match, United took on hosts PSV Eindhoven with a win wanted to advance to the semi-finals.
A good encounter forwards and backwards, the hosts ultimately took the lead early within the second half when Robin van Duiven completed from Benjamin Khaderi’s cross from the fitting wing.
Chasing an equaliser, United thought they’d it when Amir Ibragimov was first to react on a rebound to place the ball off the crossbar and into the objective.
However controversy was afoot, because the linesman’s flag was raised quickly after for offside regardless of Ibragimov being nicely onside on the time of the preliminary shot from Fletcher.
Horrendous refereeing might have simply robbed United of an opportunity to progress into the semi-finals.
Fletcher’s deflected effort is put away by Ibragimov however the objective is bizarrely referred to as offside for no obvious purpose.
Absolute joke. pic.twitter.com/tNVIhIsNa7
— SCOOP. (@AcademyScoop) August 17, 2024
Ibragimov had one other probability late on one on one with the keeper however couldn’t discover the end previous Roy Steur, giving the hosts PSV Eindhoven the 1-0 win.
With just one win in three, United completed Eighth within the group stage which put them within the 5-Eighth placement rounds.
On the ultimate day of the event, United first took on South Korean facet Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, having additionally met final yr, the place United got here out the victors.
This time round, it was Jeonbuk who would strike first. The story of a lot of the event, United appeared the higher facet however couldn’t capitalise on it after which a mistake on the again gifted the possibility to Seokjin Han who graciously accepted to use the end.
5 minutes later although, Tyler Fletcher drew it degree once more together with his strike going off the put up and into the objective.
The match completed 1-1 and went to penalties the place United appeared assured with Tyler Fletcher, James Scanlon, Amir Ibragimov, and Jayce Fitzgerald all scoring from the spot to provide United the 4-1 win.
Within the remaining match for fifth place, United got here up in opposition to FC Utrecht.
After falling behind early, United pulled it again heroically within the remaining minutes. Bailey went on a unbelievable run into the field earlier than being taken down to achieve United a penalty with only one minute remaining. Scanlon stepped as much as put the ball into the online to make it 1-1 and ship it to penalties once more.
United’s ending from the spot wasn’t as sharp on this event although, and misses from Tyler Fletcher and Jim Thwaites imply United misplaced 3-4 to place them in sixth place, a repeat of final yr’s ending place.
United didn’t come away empty handed although, with Scanlon choosing up private accolades as the perfect attacker on the event.
Congratulations to James Scanlon on being recognised because the Greatest Striker on the #OttenInnovationCup 👏🏆
An thrilling future awaits ⚽️🚀@ManUtd #GSWFootball #NothingUnitesPeopleLikeThePowerOfSports pic.twitter.com/vprgBhKQUU
— GSW Soccer (@GSWFootball_) August 18, 2024
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