2
Manchester United Under-21s traveled to the capital on Friday evening to take on Fulham at Motspur Park. It was a top-flight match, with United leading the league, but a win for Fulham would have put them level at the top.
After his red card with the first team, Shea Lacey was back with the Under-21s to maintain his sharpness.
First half
Sharp was exactly how Lacey started the match, forcing an early save from the goalkeeper before being dragged into the penalty area to earn a penalty during United’s next attack. Lacey stepped up to collect the ball herself and calmly threw the ball away with Bruno Fernandes’ trademark bounce, skip and run.
13′ – Shea Lacey puts us at 1-0 from the spot, after also winning the penalty. #MUFC #MUAcademy pic.twitter.com/pdvvip7ayn
— RedYouthUnited (@RedYouthUnited) January 16, 2026
Diego Leon supplied Malachi Sharpe through the left channel, who cleared clear at blistering pace, but placed his shot on the wrong side of the post. A world-class save from Will Murdock in the 20th minute denied what looked like a certain goal for Fulham’s Tom Wingate as his header sailed towards the top right corner.
A minute later, United captain Jacob Devaney played a perfectly weighted pass to open the game for Lacey, who had switched to the left. He took one touch before racing past the goalkeeper to double United’s lead.
It was a dominant half from United, but Fulham’s own little number seven spoiled the show just before half-time in stoppage time. Farhan Ali Wahid cut inside from the left and curled the ball past Murdock to make it 1-2 at half-time.
Second half
Ten minutes after the restart, Lacey was inches away from a hat-trick. He cut in from the right and saw his shot hit the crossbar before Gabriele Biancheri’s stretch rebound went wide of the target.
A long, shifting ball found Ali Wahid in the right corner, where he flew past Leon and struck low, the ball poking out of Murdock’s hands and into the goal to bring Fulham level.
Tyler Fletcher played through substitute James Scanlon in the 80th minute, but a heavy touch from the Gibraltar international sent him wide of the goalkeeper. He had to go back to Biancheri, who had his shot saved.
Fulham almost stole the three points in stoppage time when Ali Wahid was denied by Murdock after breaking past Scanlon. The final whistle blew at 2-2, but United would certainly have left London disappointed as they felt their performance was worth the win.
United remain top of the league with a three-point lead over Fulham in second place.
Match facts
United: Murdock; Kamason (Helafu 67), Aljofree, Munro (Armer 60), Leon; Devaney, T. Fletcher; Lacey (Scanlon 60), Fitzgerald, Sharpe (Obi 60); Biancheri.
Subs not used: Heath. Booked: Fletcher, Lacey, Fitzgerald.
Goals: Lacey 14, 22
Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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