Academy Match Report: Manchester United U18s 3-1 Stoke City U18s | OneFootball

Manchester United Under-18s hosted Stoke City at Carrington on Saturday morning in their final league match of the season.

With second place in the Premier League North already sealed, United Under-18s head coach Darren Fletcher opted for a strong selection in preparation for Thursday’s FA Youth Cup final clash with Manchester City.

JJ Gabriel had been expected to sit out the remaining league fixtures but was reportedly eager to play in an attempt to win the league’s golden boot.

First half

Gabriel came close to opening the scoring in the early minutes, but his sliding effort went over the bar from Samuel Lusale’s cutback.

Stoke had an early effort of their own that came close when Jerome Osei Kyremeh’s flicked attempt rolled narrowly wide of the left post.

Jay McEvoy then tested his luck with a long-range effort that dipped and rippled the top of the goal netting. The Irish midfielder has been in a rich vein of form, scoring four goals in six appearances heading into the match.

Somewhat against the run of play, it was the visitors who took the lead in the 27th minute after they broke down the right wing and centred to Kyremeh, who finished past Cameron Byrne-Hughes with extreme power.

Stoke almost doubled their lead shortly after, with Rafe McCormack making the important intervention with an acrobatic goalline clearance.

Gabriel forced a string of good saves near the end of the half but was unable to beat Ben Chivers.

United hit the back of the net in the 45th minute, but the goal was called off as Noah Ajayi handled the ball before applying the finish after some mesmerising footwork from Lusale to create the opportunity.

Second half

Gabriel continued chasing his goal in the second half and came within inches when he hit the post after being squared by Douka Nkoto.

United eventually found a deserved equaliser in the 56th minute. Ajayi took the ball on the turn to cut inside and strike low into the left corner from 25 yards out.

The second half saw torrential rain pouring down at Carrington, but the football was still free-flowing from the young Red Devils.

Amir Ibragimov struck the crossbar before Gabriel found his goal to take the lead in the 77th minute. Ajayi turned provider, going on the outside before cutting back to Gabriel to apply the side-footed finish.

Ajayi then finished the scoring late on from a blisteringly fast counter-attack that saw Bassirou Nkoto race to the byline before cutting back to the German youth international.

The three points ultimately had no bearing on United’s second-place finish in the league, four points behind Manchester City. However, United have the opportunity to exact revenge on their rivals on Thursday in the FA Youth Cup final.

One goal was also not enough for JJ Gabriel, who finished the campaign with 23 league goals in 23 appearances, narrowly bettered by City’s Teddie Lamb with 25 goals.

Match facts

United: Byrne-Hughes; Overy, McCormack (Helafu 46), Mills, Plunkett; McEvoy (B. Nkoto 64), Ibragimov (c) (Brown 87), D. Nkoto (Bradbury 64); Lusale, Gabriel, Ajayi.

Unused subs: Heath.

Goals: Ajayi 56, 87, Gabriel 77.

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