United sealed the Under 21 championship for the fourth time in five years in dramatic fashion after a thrilling match at White Hart Lane. Guillermo Varela's winner in stoppage time gave the Reds the win after they'd allowed a good Spurs side to come back from a two goal deficit.
At first, it seemed the Reds weren't going to waste any time getting the job done. After five minutes, a superb touch on the edge of the area from Pereira set up Donald Love, who fired powerfully home. Pereira then doubled the lead himself ten minutes later, finishing with a sublime volley from Riley's long ball into the area.
Spurs had beaten Sunderland last week to give United the chance to win the league tonight and they showed the class that had brought them that win when they came back into the contest and reduced the Reds' lead, Miller finishing off some persistent passing play by finishing with a carefully placed shot from the edge of the area. Only a fine save from Joel Pereira prevented Spurs drawing level minutes later.
United missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead early in the second half when McGee's clearance fell straight at the feet of Love but, his instinctive shot fell wide of the post. Despite that, it was Spurs who were having the best of the possession at that stage, with United restricted to chances on the break.
As the Spurs players began to tire, however, the Reds began to carry more of a threat and Pereira was unlucky not to extend the lead ten minutes from time when a fine run ended with the young Brazilian hitting his shot against the post. The miss appeared crucial when the home side's two substitutes linked up to level the scores, the lively Edwards getting behind the United defence and crossing for Pritchard to score from close range.
With the game on a knife-edge, Edwards and Sterling both had good chances to snatch a winner for Tottenham before United gave the game its incredible last minute twist. Pereira took a clever free kick from the right, playing the ball back to McNair to shoot from the edge of the box. His shot was saved by McGee but the ball rebounded back to Varela, who got so much power into his effort that the Spurs keeper had no chance this time.
It was a fitting way for the young Reds to secure another title. All season they've shown the spirit of United the senior team have too often lacked and that winning goal, and the timing of it, had Manchester United written all over it.
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