What the Union youth learned the hard way, however, is that United always will catch a team sleeping on even the most momentary lapse in concentration. A breakdown in the defensive third allowed for United forward Danny Welbeck to slot a well-timed ball to forward Gabriel Obertan, who buried the shot past Union rookie Brian Perk in the 76th minute. Welbeck, 19, who has risen through the ranks of United's reserves, has a goal and an assist after the second match of a four-game, six-city North American tour for United. He scored in United's 3-1 win over Celtic FC in Toronto last Friday.
"Danny is still growing, but he is a part of a very young group of lads for us," said United manager Alex Ferguson. "It's a curve for us, but, in all, he is one of the players that has really impressed."
While the first half provided an equal number of shots on goal (three), the Union definitely held the edge in thrilling moments offensively, starting in the 11th minute when Alejandro Moreno registered the first shot on United keeper Tomasz Kusczak.
But it was the play in the first half of Danny Mwanga, who said earlier this week that playing a team like United is "every soccer player's dream," that created the most chances. In the 16th, the 19-year-old displayed a bit of acrobatics with a juggle and volley that just sailed over the crossbar. Just before half, Mwanga, with a ball played into him in space, laid a ball off to Sebastien LeToux off the flank that trickled past the right post.
"These guys are the best in the world," said Union assistant manager John Hackworth. "For our guys, it was great for them to see how fast the game should be played.
