The play rarely stopped before the break, with few fouls and only a couple of set-pieces. Sam Murray denied Mubama another opportunity with a strong block before the City no.9 shot wide of the right post. A minute later, Wheatley showed fast footwork on the area’s edge before dragging his effort beyond the left post.
United began the second period with intensity and could have led. Wheatley won the ball high up but couldn’t get beyond a three-man block to find James Scanlon across the box. Tyler Fletcher followed his team-mate’s example to earn possession in the final third before producing an out-swinging cross from which Wheatley headed over.
Fletcher himself then shot wide of the left post shortly after.
City weathered that dominant five-minute period and began carving out their own opportunities. Mubama head over the bar and then couldn’t quite turn Heskey’s header into the net at the far left post.
At the third time of asking since the break, Mubama came up good, heading across goal into the bottom right corner from Lakyle Samuel’s floated cross.
United came back off the ropes to regain a foothold but Kone’s long-range strike couldn’t test Spike Brits and City remained compact in defence, limiting chances within the box.
City attempted to capitalise on a tiring Reds side on the counter-attack but substitute Reigan Heskey’s right-footed curler went beyond the post. Eventually, Charlie Gray combined well with Heskey to tee up Mubama, who back-heeled cleverly to double his and City’s tally and finish the game off.
.webp?ssl=1 "The state of play at Mercedes after three rounds of the 2026 season")
