Video: Shea Lacey is a class above as he scores twice to keep United u21s top of the league

Manchester United Under-21s travelled to the capital on Friday night to take on Fulham at Motspur Park. It was a top-of-the-table clash, with United leading the league, but a win for Fulham would have brought them level at the top.

Following his red card with the first team, Shea Lacey was back with the Under-21s to maintain his sharpness.

First half

Sharp was exactly how Lacey started the match, forcing a save from the goalkeeper early on before being dragged down in the box to earn a penalty during United’s next attack. Lacey stepped up to take it himself and calmly slotted the ball away with a trademark Bruno Fernandes hop, skip, and run-up.

13’ – Shea Lacey puts us ahead 1-0 from the spot after winning the penalty as well. #MUFC #MUAcademy pic.twitter.com/pdvvip7ayn

— RedYouthUnited (@RedYouthUnited) January 16, 2026

Diego Leon fed Malachi Sharpe through the left channel, who broke clear with blistering pace, but he placed his shot on the wrong side of the post. A world-class save from Will Murdock in the 20th minute denied what looked like a certain goal for Fulham’s Tom Wingate, as his header sailed towards the top right corner.

A minute later, United captain Jacob Devaney played a perfectly weighted pass to open up play for Lacey, who had switched to the left side. He took one touch before smashing past the goalkeeper to double United’s lead.

It was a dominant half from United, but Fulham’s own diminutive number seven spoiled the show just before the break, in stoppage time. Farhan Ali Wahid cut inside from the left and curled one past Murdock to make it 1-2 at half-time.

Second half

Ten minutes after the restart, Lacey came inches away from sealing a hat-trick. He cut inside from the right and saw his shot cannon off the crossbar before Gabriele Biancheri’s stretching effort on the rebound went wide of the goal.

A long, switching ball found Ali Wahid in the right corner, where he breezed past Leon and struck low, with the ball stinging off Murdock’s hands and into the goal to draw Fulham level.

Tyler Fletcher played through substitute James Scanlon in the 80th minute, but a heavy touch from the Gibraltar international sent him wide left past the goalkeeper. He had to cut back to Biancheri, who had his shot saved.

Fulham almost stole the three points in stoppage time when Ali Wahid was denied by Murdock after breaking inside past Scanlon. The final whistle came at 2-2, but United would certainly have left London disappointed, feeling their performance was worthy of the win.

United remain top of the league with a three-point advantage over Fulham in second place.

Match facts

United: Murdock; Kamason (Helafu 67), Aljofree, Munro (Armer 60), Leon; Devaney, T. Fletcher; Lacey (Scanlon 60), Fitzgerald, Sharpe (Obi 60); Biancheri.

Subs not used: Heath. Booked: Fletcher, Lacey, Fitzgerald.

Goals: Lacey 14, 22

Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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