Premier League 2

Manchester United 3 (Amad 6, 87, McNeill 33)

Leeds United 2 (McGurk 23, Kenneh 70)

Man U: Kovar, Jurado, Wellens, Mengi, Bennett, Svidersky, Amad, Mainoo, McNeill (Garnacho 73), Hansen, Elanga.  Subs not used: Kambwala, Mee, Ennis.

Leeds: Klaesson, McCarron (Hjelde 59), Moore, Kenneh, Mullen, Jenkins, Allen, Miller (McKinstry 59), McGurk (Summerville 59), Dean, Greenwood. Subs not used: Van den Heuvel, Hughes.

Booked: Kenneh (Leeds), Hansen (Man U)

Referee: Ed Duckworth

Venue: Leigh Sports Village

Leeds United’s Under-23s were defeated 3-2 at Leigh Sports Village by Manchester United, following a late winner by Amad Diallo.

The hosts took the lead inside six minutes when Amad was played through on goal by Martin Svidersky and he slotted past Leeds stopper Kristoffer Klaesson.

Leeds almost hit back four minutes later when Sam Greenwood’s strike from a narrow angle deflected and bounced wide off the post.

The Whites continued to apply pressure and were rewarded midway into the first half.  Following a Leeds corner, Sean McGurk picked up possession and his deflected strike found the top corner.

Klaesson was forced into action to keep the scores level, making a good stop to deny Charlie McNeill’s powerful strike from a narrow angle.

Anthony Elanga was next to go close for the home side, he drove his way into the Leeds box, before firing narrowly wide.

Manchester United regained the lead in the 33^rd minute, Amad broke from the halfway line before teeing up McNeill, who lifted the ball over the outcoming Klaesson and into the net via the post.

McGurk, full of confidence from his first strike almost got his second of the afternoon soon after, but for a fine block, ahead of Matej Kovar collecting.

Max Dean almost got Leeds a second leveller before the break when he was teed up by Liam McCarron and the Whites striker saw his attempt beat Kovar, but not the post.

Half time: Manchester United 2-1 Leeds United

After the break the rain began to pour in Leigh, but Leeds started lively, Dean saw a long range strike go wide, whilst McGurk also saw a strike deflect off target.

Amad who opened the scoring for the hosts threatened eight minutes into the second period.  He drove up the pitch before striking just wide from the edge of the Leeds box.

Dean again went close two minutes later, forcing Kovar into a good stop with a 20-yard effort.

Defender Kris Moore headed off target from a Sam Greenwood corner, before Greenwood again tested Kovar.

With 20 minutes of regular time remaining, Leeds levelled the scores for the second time in the game.  Substitute Stuart McKinstry found Dean in the middle of the Manchester United box and his backheel laded at the feet of Nohan Kenneh, whose powerful strike deflected into the bottom corner.

The equaliser gave Leeds even more confidence and only a fine stop by Kovar kept the Red Devils in front, with Greenwood’s strike destined for the top corner.

Greenwood again tried his luck, doing well to work an opening for himself to get a shot away, but didn’t have the accuracy with his effort which went wide.

However, despite Leeds looking the most likely team to score, against the run of play, the hosts secured a late victory, with Amad showing neat footwork in the Leeds box, before finding the back of the net.

Full time: Manchester United 3-2 Leeds United