JJ Gabriel produces magic: Manchester United U18s 5-2 Nottingham Forest U18s | OneFootball

Manchester United Under-18s hosted Nottingham Forest Under-18s at Carrington on Saturday morning.

Coming into the match in hot form, Darren Fletcher’s side had qualified for the Premier League Cup final during the week with a win over West Ham United Under-18s.

First half

United took control of the match from the outset with early half-chances for JJ Gabriel and Junior Brown. Gabriel almost opened the scoring in the 20th minute when his shot looked destined for the bottom right corner, but it was tipped around the post by Ally Graham at full stretch.

Five minutes later, Jay McEvoy picked the pocket of Frank Djamna high up the pitch before finishing past Graham from 18 yards out. It was the first league goal of the season for the Ireland youth international.

Once the floodgates were open, the goals started to flow for United. Gabriel made it 2-0 after driving past two defenders and seeing his deflected shot dip just below the crossbar at the final moment.

Gabriel did not need a deflection moments later, though, as his effort soared into the top corner for his second of the match. The 15-year-old twisted and turned away from pressure before the exquisite finish.

The score remained 3-0 at the break despite further efforts from Louie Bradbury and Brown, which could have seen United’s lead even higher.

Second half

The pair of Brown and Bradbury combined early in the second half to get United’s fourth. Brown crossed to Bradbury for a bullet header past the keeper.

Kai Rooney was introduced just after the hour mark, having played the first half of the Under-16s match on the opposite pitch. Rooney almost made an immediate impact, combining with Noah Ajayi down the left wing and forcing a foot save from the keeper.

Gabriel was chasing his hat-trick and came within inches in the 67th minute when he smashed the ball off the woodwork from Ajayi’s cutback.

A rare attack for Nottingham Forest ended with a penalty for the visitors, which was dispatched by Riko Robinson.

United’s four-goal lead was restored just two minutes later by Ajayi, who cut in from the left wing and sneaked a clever finish inside the near post.

Forest pulled back another through Basima Balagizi, but it was too little too late as United ran out 5-2 winners.

The young Red Devils now have an 11-day break before they meet Sunderland on the 18th of March in the FA Youth Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford.

Match facts

United: Byrne-Hughes, Helafu, Mills, Armer (C) (McCormack 46), J. Watson, Thwaites (B. Nkoto 61), McEvoy, JJ Gabriel, D. Nkoto, Brown (Ajayi 61), Bradbury (Rooney 61)

Unused subs: Heath

Goals: McEvoy 25, Gabriel 37, 41, Bradbury 51, Ajayi 77

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