Man United’s miracle escape breaks Hong Kong hearts in extraordinary game of 12 penalties
United’s academy recover from being two goals down entering stoppage time, but that tells only half the story of eventful night at Mong Kok
Manchester United’s academy team won an extraordinary game of 12 penalties as they downed a team of hosts Hong Kong’s hottest prospects on Friday.
The visiting United under-16s were 3-1 down at the end of 90 minutes and staring defeat in the face against a Hong Kong Premier Youth League Select at Mong Kok Stadium.
Then, having already added 10 minutes of stoppage time to the first half, officials calculated a further 10 at the end of the second. United proceeded to win two penalties in those 10 minutes to draw level.
Those were not the first spot-kicks of the match, with United having taken the lead with one in the fourth minute. Nor were they the last: there were nine to come, when the draw sent the sides into a penalty shoot-out.
The Hong Kong team’s Jack Bennie had seized on an error from goalkeeper Darlington to equalise after nine minutes, and his teammate Cai McGunnigle then added two more goals before half-time.