Premier League 2

Manchester United U21 1 (McNeill 93’)

Leeds United U21 2 (McGurk 8’, Douglas 53’)

Man Utd: Harrison (GK), Ogunneye (Oyedele 63’), Jurado, Mengi, Aljofree, Collyer (C), Mejia (Williams 70’), Hansen-Aaroen (McNeill 77’), Hugill, Mejbri, Forson (Gore, 46’). 

Subs not used: Carney (GK)

Leeds: Christy (GK), Moore, Ferguson (Coleman 46’), Monteiro, Mullen, Crew, Thomas, Jenkins (Debayo 57’), Perkins (Spencer 83'), McGurk (Carole 72’), Douglas.

Subs not used: Ombang (GK)

Venue: Old Trafford

Referee: Steven Copeland

Booked: Aljofree (Man Utd) Ferguson, Douglas, Christy, Mullen (Leeds)

Sent off: Aljofree (Man Utd)

Leeds United Under-21s made it back-to-back wins at the start of the PL2 season with a superb away performance at Old Trafford.

Sean McGurk gave the visitors the lead after just eight minutes and Connor Douglas’ second half strike secured all three points for Michael Skubala’s young side.

It was the hosts who started brightly, seeing a lot of possession, with Harry Christy called upon in the second minute to claim Joe Hugill’s dangerous ball across goal.

Hannibal Mejbri also had an attempt from range as Manchester United looked to break the deadlock, but it would be the visitors who opened the scoring minutes later. 

The Whites built patiently down the left hand side, before Jack Jenkins fired a pass into Sonny Perkins, his flick round the corner found McGurk inside the box who finished coolly past Elyh Harrison. 

Just two minutes later, Leeds had the chance to double their lead. Jenkins was involved again, dispossessing Mejbri with a slide tackle in midfield before setting Luca Thomas away, last week’s hat-trick hero jinked into the Man Utd box and was tripped by Sonny Aljofree. The referee pointed straight to the spot and brandished a yellow card to the Reds’ defender.

Perkins stood over the penalty for Leeds, but Harrison guessed right and got down to make the save. 

Leeds would have to work hard to protect their lead before half time and would do so thanks to a string of brave blocks. 

First, Jeremiah Mullen stood tall to block Isak Hansen-Aaroen’s strike, before Kris Moore made a miraculous last-ditch block to deny a certain goal for Omari Forson. 

The hosts continued to enjoy the majority of the possession, as expected with a strong line-up on home turf, Hugill failed to convert their best chance of the half, misjudging his header from six yards out after a delightful cross from Mateo Mejia.

More last-ditch defending kept the hosts’ at bay before the break, with Conor Ferguson blocking Habeeb Ogunneye’s goal bound effort, before Mullen once again threw himself in the way of Mejia’s follow-up.

HALF TIME: Manchester United U21 0-1 Leeds United U21

Dan Gore was introduced by the hosts at half-time and he started the second half brightly, instantly involved with a neat turn inside the Leeds box, but he dragged his shot wide. 

He should’ve done better with his second chance just moments later, receiving the ball from Hansen-Aaroen’s cut back but firing wide. 

Just like the first half, Leeds were clinical on the break and punished Man Utd’s missed chances.

A swift counter down the right saw Thomas play the ball into McGurk, he let it run with a clever dummy, allowing Douglas to run onto the ball and fire past Harrison to double Leeds’ lead.

Manchester United once again reacted well to conceding, Gore was involved again as his drive from 25 yards out, hit the foot of the post on the hour mark.

Teden Mengi also tried his luck from range and saw his curling effort whistle just wide, before Christy was called upon again, getting down sharply to his right to keep out Mejbri. 

The young Reds’ talisman tried his luck again from range minutes later, but this time it was an easy catch for Whites skipper Christy.

It would be a tense ending for Leeds as Manchester United grabbed one back in added time. Christy was penalised for time-wasting, with referee Steven Copeland awarding the hosts an indirect free-kick.

The ball was laid off to substitute Charlie McNeill, who’s strike took a wicked deflection off Cian Coleman, wrong-footing Christy and hitting the back of the net.

The drama wasn’t done there, as Leeds broke in the 93rd minute, Manchester United defender Aljofree inadvertently handled the ball and was shown a second yellow card.

One more crucial block was needed by the Leeds defence to see out the win, as Hugill cut the ball back to McNeill but James Debayo was in the right place to deny the Reds' substitute a heroic brace in the 95th minute.

After 99 minutes, the full-time whistle finally blew and Leeds could celebrate a fantastic victory in front of travelling support.

Skubala’s side are back in action next Friday, as they look to continue their 100% start in their first home game of the season, under the lights at Elland Road with West Ham the visitors.

That game kicks-off at 7pm, with tickets still available to purchase via tickets.leedsunited.com.

FULL TIME: Manchester United U21 1-2 Leeds United U21