Manchester United’s U18s began their league campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City at Carrington on Saturday, undone by a late Teddie Lamb strike despite dominating large spells of the game.

Darren Fletcher handed starts to three of the club’s new first-year scholars – Jaume Camacho, Camron Mpofu, and Manu Ziro – in a side freshened up by 15 incoming scholars this summer. It was City who broke the deadlock in the 66th minute, Lamb sliding home a low cross after breaking down the right on the counter, against the run of play according to The Peoples Person.

Darren Fletcher serves as a coach at Manchester United.Chances went begging before the late sting

United had the better of the opening exchanges without finding a way through. Charlie Hardy punched a goal-bound Archie Thornton volley off the line, while at the other end Ben Vickery produced an equally sharp save to deny Camacho after good work from Ziro on the right.

Follow Stretty News on Google as a preferred source and be first with every United update.

Mpofu thought he’d broken the deadlock before the break, but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside. The second half followed a similar pattern, with Camacho and Ziro both put through inside the box only to fluff their finishes, and further half-chances falling to Junior Brown without reward.

Chasing an equaliser late on, United came agonisingly close when Camacho picked out Brown at the back post, only for Vickery to fly across his goal and deny the hosts a share of the spoils.

Context: familiar foes at the top of the group

United and City have finished as the top two sides in the Premier League North in each of the last three seasons, making this opening-day meeting a genuine measuring stick for both academies. This latest defeat means Fletcher’s side will need to make an early habit of converting the chances they created against City if they’re to keep pace with their rivals again this term.

Manchester United and Manchester City U18 players compete during a youth derby match.

Match facts: Hardy, Helafu, McCormack (c), Ngwashi (Laurie 75), J. Watson (Carrick 75), McEvoy (McLaughlin 84), Shah, Ziro (De Jonge-Seiros 67), Camacho-Sidos, Brown, Mpofu (Bradbury 75).

Other academy sides in action

It’s been a busy week for United’s younger age groups more broadly, with the U19s in Otten Cup action and the U16s out in Hong Kong as part of the club’s pre-season programme for its youngest sides.

Fletcher’s group won’t have long to dwell on this result. United host Charlton Athletic on Tuesday in the Premier League Cup, with an immediate chance to put the sting of Saturday’s defeat behind them.

The post Missed Chances Cost United U18s in City Derby Defeat appeared first on Stretty News.