Manchester City Under 21s Beat Rochdale 2-0 Just Two Weeks Ago

Rochdale may have come close to a huge upset in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night but just two weeks ago they were well beaten by Manchester City's under 21s.

Manchester United fans ended Tuesday night relieved that their players managed to show the sort of composure from the penalty spot they've rarely managed on the pitch all season.

However they won't be happy to hear that local rivals City's reserves played against Rochdale in the EFL Trophy just two weeks ago and ran out 2-0 winners.

City's side on September 15th included Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who made his debut for the first team starting against Preston, and Adrián Bernabé, who came on in the second half against the Championship side.

Whilst United dominated more in their game on Wednesday and had more shots, 31, City's under 21s still managed to have 17 shots, keep the ball for 53% of the game and only allow the League One side six shots, whilst United allowed them to have five.

The under 21s scored through 17-year-old Jayden Jezairo Braaf after 31 minutes with Bernabe doubling their lead after 58 minutes.

Harwood-Bellis, here playing against Preston, started against Rochdale two weeks ago. Image: PA Images

United struggled to break the deadlock far more and had to rely on their own teenager Mason Greenwood to finally put them ahead on 68 minutes, only after they'd cleared a shot off the line from their opposition from two divisions below.

16-year-old Luke Matheson equalised on 76 minutes, just a month after picking up his GCSE results and whilst Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team tried they couldn't break Brian Barry-Murphy's side down again.

The game went to penalties with the Red Devils no doubt carrying memories of a year previous when they lost at the same stage of the cup at Old Trafford to Derby County by the same method.

Matheson celebrates after equalising against United. Image: PA Images

Fortunately for them there was no repeat with United putting away all five of their penalties in a 5-3 win and sending them through to the next round, where they face Chelsea.

Relief all round for the Premier League side but it doesn't look good that they aren't even as good as their local rivals under 21 team.

Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Carabao Cup, Manchester United, Mason Greenwood, League One, Premier League

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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