Andy Welsh’s side put their foot on the gas after the break to notch all four goals in an excellent second-half display, with Harry Bunn, Gai Assulin, Omar Elabdellaoui and Jordi Hiwula on target in the behind-closed-doors fixture at United’s Carrington training ground.
The City starting XI featured several players, Bunn among them, that had returned from loan spells away from the club in recent months. As well as the striker, Jeremy Helan, Omar Elabdellaoui and Luca Scapuzzi got some valuable match time but collectively the whole team’s efforts brought them a deserved win on a dank, cold afternoon.
It had not started well for City when the hosts took the lead after 15 minutes. Jesse Lingard took advantage when a back-pedalling Reece Wabara and Eirik Johansen collided outside the box, allowing the United man to walk the ball into the net.
The Reds had the better of the rest of the half, with their scorer being denied a second by a finger-tip save from City’s Norwegian keeper. Rekik blocked King’s follow-up, and from the resulting corner Johansen made another fine save.
These proved to be vital when City levelled just after the break. City were awarded a penalty for handball, and after seeing his spot-kick saved, Harry Bunn reacted quickly enough to slot the ball home under the advancing Kusczcak.
United hit back on the hour when a flowing move opened up the City defence enough for Larnell Cole to tap home from close range. But City were undeterred and were back on level terms within minutes through substitute Assulin, who swept the ball home after fine work down the left from Elabdellaoui had allowed him his chance to shoot.
It was the midfielder, who had not played a full game for four months after returning injured from a loan at Stromsgodset in Norway, who put City into the lead with a spectacular goal on 70 minutes.
A corner rebounded invitingly outside the box, and he made the most of it, giving Kusczcak no chance to get anywhere near his powerful shot after an intelligent first touch.
City looked comfortable in the lead, and they sealed a fine win in stoppage time when the Academy’s leading scorer, Hiwula, applied a clinical finish from inside the box.
