Manchester United u18s took on Manchester City on Tuesday night in the Premier League Cup final.
A week on from securing the Premier League North title, Adam Lawrence’s side were looking to complete the double by winning the Premier League Cup for the first time ever.
With a strong line up that saw Harry Amass, Habeeb Ogunneye, Ethan Wheatley, Louis Jackson, and Jack Kingdon all drop back down after recent involvement with Erik ten Hag’s first team, United got off to a strong start.
Early efforts from Ethan Williams and Ruben Curley laid down the marker before Ethan Wheatley gave United the lead in just the 7th minute.
From a free kick at the halfway line, James Nolan sent Wheatley the ball in the right channel to take one touch before smashing the ball on the volley past the keeper from a tight angle.
Farid Alfa-Ruprecht looked lively on City’s left wing but it was United who added a second in the 25th minute.
Elyh Harrison drew City forward before kicking long to James Scanlon who flicked onto Nolan to play Wheatley through again. He rounded the keeper this time and dispatched into the goal.
City began to take control of the possession after United’s second goal which saw the tempo of the match slow down and United fall deeper, but despite the possession, City were unable to create anything of note in the first half.
The half time break saw Lawrence make wholesale switches as Amass, Wheatley, and Jackson departed with Erik ten Hag reportedly keen for them to be involved with the first team against Sheffield United but also wanting them to experience the cup final.
The second half started as the first ended with City controlling the ball but United posing the bigger threat on the counter.
Scanlon crossed to Gabriele Biancheri who took the ball on his head before rifling a shot off the outside of the right post.
Jacob Devaney then came close to rounding the City keeper who did well to get a hand on the ball to cut out the chance created by Scanlon.
As the match entered the latter stages, United’s tiredness began to show as they relentlessly ran throughout the match. The fatigue was evident when United were caught out in the 85th minute by a quick corner that found Stephen Mfuni in the box to head past Harrison.
There were nail-biting scenes in the dying moments as Harrison was called into action not once but twice, making incredible saves to keep United’s lead and reach the final whistle.
But the resilient and tactically professional performance saw United’s u18s secure the win to raise the Premier League Cup for the first time, despite being forced into a number of early substitutions to key players.
The cup win sees United achieve the league and cup double over Manchester City, who have finished second place in both competitions.
A special moment for our young Reds! 😍
🏆 #U18PLCup #MUFC || #MUAcademy pic.twitter.com/azlzUMqERQ
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 23, 2024
United: Harrison, Nolan, Jackson (Mantato 46), Kingdon, Amass (Ogunneye 46), McAllister, Curley (Devaney 64), Scanlon, J.Fletcher (Lacey 72), Williams, Wheatley (Biancheri 46)
