MK Dons Under-18s kicked-off their 2017/18 campaign with a 2-0 victory over Cambridge United at Woughton-on-the-Green.
First-year scholar Dylan Asonganyi grabbed both the goals for the young Dons, who also kept a clean sheet en route to an opening day success.
Edu Rubio’s starting XI featured seven new additions, including striker Asonganyi. He had the game’s first chance when he hit the post with a right-footed effort, following some good work from David Kasumu.
The England youth international made no mistake, though, on 20 minutes when he was played in by Kasumu, who had again one the ball in the middle of the park – this time, Asonganyi finishing confidently into the bottom left corner from 12-yards out.
Following the goal, goalkeeper Alfie Jones, one of the seven first-year apprentices in the line-up, was forced into a save at his far post. Jenson Wright then troubled the U’s stopper with a fierce strike from 25-yards.
Bradley Bell almost doubled the Dons’ advantage with a left-footed strike at the start of the second half, which skimmed the crossbar on its way over.
Rubio’s side did a good job of managing the contest during the second period and aside from a half-chance following a corner, they didn’t really trouble Jones in the Dons’ goal.
They were then able to secure the three points on 77 minutes when Asonganyi grabbed his second goal of the day – the striker pounced on a blocked clearance from the goalkeeper to double his and the team’s tally.
After the match, Rubio said: “It was a great performance from the players in their first league game of the season. We managed to get the clean-sheet as well as the two goals, which is always pleasing.
“We also managed the game extremely well throughout the 90 minutes which is an important aspect of the game for these young players to learn as they aim to make the step up into the Under-23s and the First Team.”
Starting XI: Jones; Ackom (Tapp 70), Hourican-Harvey, Hope (c), Sorinola; Kasumu, Wright; Bell (Sole 63), Pattison (Bird 57), Evans (Martin 46); Asonganyi.
Unused subs: None
Goals: Asonganyi (20, 77)
