MANCHESTER UNITED’S Under-21s looked distraught as they were thrashed 4-1 by Anderlecht in the Premier League International Cup at Leigh Sports Village.
The defeat leaves United fourth in Group D and four points behind leaders Sunderland U21s, with Leeds a point behind the Black Cats inside the two qualifying spots.
The competition features 16 English academy teams and 16 of the top development squads from European nations.
The teams are split into four groups, each comprising four English sides and four teams from Europe, which means United will face continental opposition in every group match.
United were second best from minute one, but somehow went ahead through skipper Jacob Devaney’s header against the run of play on the stroke of half-time.
Travis Binnion’s side faced a harsh lesson in the second half as the visitors scored four well-executed goals, prompting four extravagant celebrations from the Belgium dugout.
United were without the injured Chido Obi and Shea Lacey, who trained with the first team earlier on Tuesday after being named in two of Ruben Amorim’s matchday squads in recent weeks.
Fellow high-valued academy products Sekou Kone and Diego Leon were also missing from the squad that lacked pace.
Jack Fletcher struggled at makeshift left back in the first-half, particularly failing to grapple with tricky winger Joshua Bethume and captain Nunzio Engwanda.
The Belgian side started on the front foot, forcing a mistake from Godwill Kukonki but were unable to open the lead thanks to several fine saves from keeper William Murdock.
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The visitors’ press proved troublesome for United, who were pinned back in their own half for most of the contest.
Murdock ensured Anderlecht failed to find the back of the net in the first-half when he put his body on the line in the 35th minute, taking a strike straight to his face.
But it was the home side who broke the deadlock when a corner was played short to Jack Fletcher who crossed for Devaney to head in from close range in the 45th minute.
Anderlecht drew level just two minutes after the break, with Enzo Sternal finishing into an empty net from a rebound after Murdock made a good first save.
The 18-year-old Frenchman had featured for Marseille’s first team before making the move to Belgium.
Anderlecht had all the speed, physicality and momentum, while United lacked all three.
Devaney’s poor pass back went straight to Terry Van de Ven who ran through to take the lead. Goals from Yasin Ozcan and Samuel Ntanda completed the whitewash.
United got off to a winning start in the competition when they played Athletic Bilbao in September, winning 2-1 thanks to goals from James Scanlon and Gabriele Biancheri.
The Red Devils next face Borussia Dortmund in the Premier League International Cup on December 19 at Old Trafford.
