Manchester United Under-15s headed to the Netherlands for the 2015 Marveld tournament, and had high expectations after finishing as runners-up in the 2013 edition. However, the youngsters couldn’t achieve the same success this year, with just one victory in the play-off stages being overshadowed by a lacklustre attacking performance and regular defeats. Note: Line-ups are not displayed in positions and are listed randomly.
Manchester United 1-1 Feyenoord
Opening the tournament against Feyenoord, Mason Greenwood secured a 1-1 draw against their Dutch counterparts. Angel Gomes provided a danger early on with his crosses, while Dylan Levitt was unfortunate to see his effort saved. Taking the lead shortly before half-time, Feyenoord were unable to keep Greenwood at bay, who almost struck a second after a flying header and a rebound struck the post. When United finally secured a second, the referee ruled the goal offside, ensuring the teams were at stalemate in their first game.
vs Feyenoord: Campbell, Freeman, Spratt, Garner, Dunne, Laird, Levitt, Barlow, Greenwood, Gomes, McGhee
PSV Eindhoven 1-0 Manchester United
Next up were more Dutch opponents, in the form of PSV Eindhoven. Matthew Campbell was forced into an excellent save early on, but couldn’t keep a clean sheet after a dubious penalty late on. D’Mani Bughail-Mellor replaced Max Dunne, although Gomes could continue despite a harsh challenge. Later hitting the crossbar from a set-up, a physical PSV saw Ethan Laird pick up an injury, nonetheless able to continue. Gomes came close with another effort gliding over the bar, before PSV slotted home a soft penalty to secure the win.
vs PSV: Campbell, Gomes, Spratt, Dunne, Greenwood, Levitt, Barlow, McGhee, Laird, Garner, Freeman
Manchester United 0-2 Atletico Paranaense
Sitting fourth in their group and yet to win, the Red Devils faced Atletico Paranaense in their next outing. Gomes was noted to be warming-up away from the rest of the squad in injury doubts, but was able to start. However, the Brazilian side took an early lead, finding the net from a corner inside 10 minutes. Three changes at half-time did little to aid United, as they soon conceded a second to fall to another defeat.
vs Atletico Paranaense: Thompson, McGhee, Freeman, Gomes, Bughail-Mellor, Laird, Barlow, Broadbent, Garner, Dunne, Greenwood
Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Manchester United
Facing PSG in a push for their first win, Lewis Thompson was unable to keep out the attacking force, with another qucikfire goal causing despair for Tommy Martin’s side. However, the number one made a number of fine saves throughout the match, and kept the scoreline down heading into half-time. Three substitutions at half-time had the same effect once more, as their French opponents sealed the win with a second goal 15 minutes from time.
vs PSG: Barlow, Gomes, Thompson, Broadbent, Garner, Laird, Ceesay, Spratt, Dunne, Freeman and McGhee
Manchester United 0-2 Right to Dream Ghana
In the final group game of the disappointing campaign for the Reds, yet another 2-0 defeat was inflicted – with the game going wrong from start to finish. Laird was forced off in the opening stages through injury, before Jéan Leroy Belehouan was also susbtituted due to injury just four minutes later. Right to Dream Ghana soon made it 1-0, and headed into half-time with the lead. A mistake from Max Dunne in the second half handed Ghana the opportunity for a second, and they slotted home to leave United disappointed.
vs Right to Dream Ghana: Gomes, Campbell, Barlow, Laird, Bughail-Mellor, Greenwood, McGhee, Belehouan, Levitt, Garner, Freeman
FC Twente 1-1 Manchester United (United win 1-4 on penalties)
Taking just a single point from five games, Manchester United finished rock-bottom in their group. As a result, they had two play-off games remaining. The first fixture saw them play FC Twente, who boasted the son of former Red Devil Raimond van der Gouw between the sticks. And it came to no surprise when the Dutch side took an initial lead, before Dion McGhee was ruled offside with a golden opportunity. Greenwood and Dunne both came close in the latter stages, and Dunne finally added to the scoresheet for the Red Devils, heading home a free-kick from Gomes.
With the fixture going to penalties, Campbell was the hero for his goalkeeping display. Gomes, Greenwood and George Broadbent all slotted their spot-kicks home, while Campbell saved the first two efforts from FC Twente. Kieron Ceesay then smashed home the fourth to secure the Red Devils first victory of the competition.
vs FC Twente: Gomes, Campbell, Bughail-Mellor, Levitt, McGhee, Greenwood, Barlow, Garner, Dunne, Spratt, Freeman
PSV Eindhoven 1-0 Manchester United
Playing PSV once again to decide 9th and 10th place, the inevitable early goal came from PSV, before James Garner’s header came agonisingly close. A goal-line clearance from Dunne kept United in the game going into the break, before Levitt almost clawed it back early on. However, it wasn’t enough as United fell to defeat, meaning United finished 10th in the 2015 Marveld tournament.
vs PSV: Gomes, Ceesay, Dunne, Bughail-Mellor, Thompson, McGhee, Greenwood, Barlow, Broadbent, Freeman, Garner
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