The U18 team had already won the northern division of the U18 league and on Tuesday night they also won the U18 Premier League Cup.
It was of course extra wonderful that the final victory was against Manchester City. United won 2-1.
Ethan Wheatley scored both of United’s goals before being substituted at half-time, but United had match-winners at both ends of the pitch in this game.
Elyh Harrison stood up with several important saves – including in extra time after City had reduced a few minutes before the end.
Great start for United
Manchester United fielded strongly despite the fact that several players are relevant for Wednesday’s match against Sheffield United as well, and fielded, among other things, Ethan Wheatley at the top.
Wheatley was United’s top scorer in the tournament after scoring seven goals in five games (including four goals against Southampton) and he started on top here, ending up giving United the lead in the seventh minute of the game.
James Nolan hit a free-kick in the back and Wheatley used a touch to set the ball up, before thumping the ball hard into the goal. An excellent volley scoring, and United led 1-0.
A real bang start.
Number nine for Wheatley
City had the upper hand for a period after United’s goal, and Nolan in particular at right-back had a number of chances.
Perhaps he was singled out as a weak point, since City attacked so much in Nolan’s side, but in any case Nolan struck with the preparations for another United score after little more than half the first half had been played.
Nolan received the ball from Scanlon, and tried to find Wheatley with a pass between the defense and the keeper. The ball changed direction in a City defender, but not enough to prevent Wheatley picking up the ball in front of the nose of City keeper Brits, passing him, and sending the ball into the goal via a desperate City defender trying to prevent United from double the lead.
Wheatley’s ninth goal in the U18 Premier League Cup.
United had a few chances to make it 3-0, but City were so close to a reduction, but Elyh Harrison stopped what came before the break.
Exchange bonanza
At half-time, it became clear that United will not win at all costs at U18 level, although of course there is prestige in a game like this.
United replaced Harry Amass, Louis Jackson and two-goal scorer Ethan Wheatley, all of whom will probably be on the bench against Sheffield United.
In came Bendito Mantato (placed at left back for the occasion), Habeeb Ogunneye (centre back) and Gabriele Biancheri (striker).
Later, Ruben Curley was also replaced by Jacob Devaney, while Shea Lacey came in for Jack Fletcher.
Dramatic ending to the match
City had much of the ground play in the second half, but United had the best chances for a long time, before City came up with a final sprint.
Stephen Mfuni reduced the score with five minutes left of normal time when he headed the ball into the goal from a corner kick, and then it got exciting at the end.
United had some dangerous counter-attacks after the break, but City had some great opportunities in injury time, but Elyh Harrison stopped City, and was United’s big hero along with two-goal scorer Wheatley.
It was 2-1 to United, and United deservedly won the U18 Premier League Cup.
United progressed as group winners from a group with Reading, Wolverhampton and Southampton, before Arsenal were beaten in the quarter-finals. In the semi-final, United won 5-1 against Crystal Palace, before it was 2-1 against Manchester City in the final.
Manchester United 2–1 (2-0) Man City
U18 Premier League Cup
Leigh Sports Village
Goal: 1-0 Ethan Wheatley (James Nolan, 07), 2-0 Wheatley (25), 2-1 Stephen Mfuni (85).
Manchester United: Elyh Harrison – James Nolan, Louis Jackson (Habeeb Ogunneye, 46), Jack Kingdon, Harry Amass (Bendito Mantato, 46) – Finley McAllister (C), Ruben Curley (Jacob Devaney, 64) – James Scanlon, Jack Fletcher (Shea Lacey, 72nd), Ethan Williams – Ethan Wheatley (Gabriele Biancheri, 46th).
LIVE:
1: The battle is on!
1: Glad to see Elyh Harrison in the starting eleven after the injury he suffered away against Wolves. It looked potentially serious, but luckily it wasn’t.
2: Dangerous City situation, but fortunately they have gone offside.
3: Finley McAllister gets the ball off to Ethan Williams brilliantly with two tackles in a row before giving it away. Williams goes straight towards the City goal, and eventually ends up shooting, but the shot is not particularly dangerous. Nice United attack anyway.
6: Curley runs with the ball, and gets the opportunity to shoot. The shot is good, but the City keeper punches the ball out for a corner kick. Good try, and good save.
7: GOALS! Ethan Wheatley with an amazing shot! Brilliant free kick pass from Nolan into the back room, and Wheatley dampens the ball before knocking it hard into the goal!
10: City’s Alfa-Ruprecht gets to a shot after Nolan loses his balance, but Harrison makes an easy save.
11: Hard long shot from Ethan Williams, but Brits in the City goal saves.
14: Alfa-Ruprecht creates problems for Nolan again, and cuts dangerously in front of goal, but Kingdon puts the ball out for a corner kick.
15: The subsequent corner kick hits the head of goalscorer Wheatley, before Scanlon manages to beat it away.
17: The ball is free in the United box following a corner kick, but Louis Jackson takes control of the situation.
23: Nolan in trouble again against a City side who seem to have rated him as a weak point to attack, but captain Finley McAllister sorts things out.
24: Short corner from City ends with a shot from a dangerous position, but the shot itself is not that dangerous.
25: GOAL! Wheatley again! Once again after a pass from Nolan (although it probably won’t count as an assist)! Scanlon slips a long pass to Nolan, who tries to find Wheatley. The pass changes direction in a City defender, but it really only makes things better for Wheatley, who takes the ball past the City keeper and shoots at goal via a City player. 2-0!
27: Wheatley’s ninth goal in the U18 Premier League Cup this season, by the way.
28: INCREDIBLE that City have not received a single yellow card yet. Both Dada-Mascoll and captain Heskey should have been booked for cynically stopping United attacks.
34: Wheatley intercepts the ball from the City keeper, and several United players almost get to shoot, but City end up winning the ball back. They counter, and get an even bigger chance themselves, but Elyh Harrison makes an excellent save!
36: While Williams is down after an unpleasant meeting with City’s Noble (who did not live up to his name in that duel), the undersigned thinks that it will be interesting to see how early certain United players are replaced with a view to the A-team game tomorrow. In any case, if United were to increase their lead further.
37: Williams is back on his feet. City get to start with the ball as no free kick was awarded, for some odd reason.
40: City with an attempted shot blocked by Curley just before the ball had left the City player’s foot.
44: There is a call for a penalty kick from the City team after a small push by Kingdon, but not enough to award a penalty. The shouts probably came mostly because of the way the City player fell.
45+3: Semi-dangerous shot from Warhurst, but Harrison doesn’t seem concerned and the ball goes wide.
BREAK.
46: The second half is underway. Exchange information follows.
46: TRIPLE SWITCH: Ethan Wheatley, Harry Amass and Louis Jackson are replaced. In comes Gabriele Biancheri, Bendito Mantato and Habeeb Ogunneye come in. The trio that went out will probably all be on the bench against Sheffield United on Wednesday night.
46: It seems that McAllister will continue in midfield, so then Mantato will probably play as left-back, where he often plays for the national team. Has been good on the right wing for United this spring, but is therefore also capable of playing left-back. Ogunneye steps in as a stopper. Has played it in a defensive three for the U21 team.
49: Alfa-Ruprecht shoots over and wide.
55: Nice United attack led by Ethan Williams and Jack Fletcher. Fletcher passes the ball out to James Scanlon, but he doesn’t hit properly, and the ball hits neither the goal nor his team-mate Biancheri (whom he may have been trying for).
58: Dangerous City attack, but Williams is down in his own box and he gets control, and clears the ball.
59: Gabriele Biancheri hits the post from close range! Great preparation by Scanlon.
62: Jack Kingdon receives a yellow card. Nothing wrong with that – but City have escaped at least three clear yellow cards before this.
64: EXCHANGE: Jacob Devaney replaces Ruben Curley. He is better defensively than Curley, so it is possible to imagine what the thinking is here, but at the same time he has also had some goalscoring passes recently.
69: United counter, and Scanlon plays through Devaney brilliantly, but Devaney can’t get the ball past the City keeper. City have had the ball in the second half, but United have had the best opportunities.
71: Fantastic Jack Fletcher pass through to Scanlon, and Scanlon makes a dangerous effort into the box, but the City keeper manages to get hold of it. The Fletcher pass is perhaps the highlight of this half. A gasp went through the audience.
72: EXCHANGE: Shea Lacey replaces Jack Fletcher. By then, United will have used up all the changes.
74: City’s Divine Mukasa receives the yellow card.
75: Semi-dangerous City cross, but Devaney clears.
76: Henderson-Hall gets a yellow card for City as it appeared that not is allowed to try to be Gabriele Biancheri’s backpack.
79: Dangerous City cross, but Mantato gets a great chance blocked.
80: Some nice Lacey details.
82: Alfa-Ruprecht shoots into the net wall from OK position. Biancheri down in own defense to disrupt the City wing there.
84: Henderson-Hall suddenly shoots for City, but Elyh Harrison gets the ball over. United are cleared after City’s corner kick.
85: New Harrison save from City shot.
85: GOALS. City is reducing. Stephen Mfuni heads home.
86: United counter with many people, and Lacey chooses the wrong solution by shooting himself.
88: City shot is blocked, and the ball goes high in the air, and Harrison picks it down.
90: United out of balance, and City attack on the right, but fortunately the winger slips when he is about to give the ball away, and the ball goes out for a clearance from the goal.
90+1: Four minutes have been added.
90+1: Huge chance for Alfa-Ruprecht! Gets to shoot in the United box, but Harrison is quickly down and saves it. Finley McAllister is shown a yellow card for an attempt to stop the attack.
90+2: Great defensive work from Shea Lacey.
90+3: Henderson-Hall is about to cut in, but Mantato blocks the cross brilliantly.
90+4: HUGE CHANCE for City in overtime! Harrison saves! Very dramatic in overtime. United counter, and Biancheri gets a good chance, but City block!
90+5: Biancheri has the ball down at the corner flag, but it ends up being a play from the City keeper.
END! Manchester United 2-1 City.
