Manchester United U18s hosted Sunderland at Carrington for their final match of the season.
The visitors took an early lead in just the second minute when they attacked down the left wing before cutting back to Felix Scott at the edge of the box, who fired into the bottom left corner.
The early goal woke United up, though, and they soon looked the better side with Shea Lacey, Amir Ibragimov, and Jim Thwaites combining well in attack.
Lacey skipped past his marker with a stepover to get to the byline and lifted a cross to Victor Musa in a central area but the United striker couldn’t generate enough power on his header to threaten Ben Metcalf in the Sunderland goal.
In the 35th minute, it was Lacey’s delivery into the box again, this time from a corner which found the head of Ibragimov who headed in to equalise.
Despite being one of the shorter players on the pitch, Ibragimov’s strength in the air has been evident throughout the season.
Five minutes later, United took the lead with another headed goal.
Thwaites’ free-kick delivery from the left wing was whipped in with pace for the incoming Albert Mills to power home with his head.
United pushed hard for a third before the break with Thwaites’ effort cannoning off the post before Samuel Lusale and Lacey were both denied by Metcalf as the first half ended 2-1 in United’s favour.
The second half saw United exert their control by lowering the tempo and comfortably working the ball around with little danger in either box.
Adam Lawrence used his full selection of outfielders off the bench including an U18 debut for Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher.
An unfortunate injury to Dante Plunkett late on left United playing with a man down with only substitute goalkeeper Fred Heath left on the bench to turn to.
Heath stripped into an outfielder kit but ultimately wasn’t given the chance to enter the playing field, a feat United’s starting keeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes had managed last season, making his U18s debut as a left winger.
Into stoppage time, Zach Baumann slipped Musa through to run into the box and finish low to ensure a 3-1 victory.
The win caps off a great season for Adam Lawrence’s side who lost only once in the league but ultimately fell short of Manchester City by two points in the title race.
United: Byrne-Hughes, Overy, Mills, Armer (Ngwashi 61), Plunkett, Baumann, Ibragimov (Bailey 61), Lacey (Gabriel 61), Thwaites, Lusale (Ibrovic-Fletcher 71), Musa
Unused subs: Heath
Feature image Ben Roberts Photo via Getty Images
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Colm Murphy
A football obsessed Canadian who moved to England to enjoy the beautiful game. Colm has been keen follower of Manchester United’s famed academy since seeing a fresh faced Adnan Januzaj for the club’s u18s and has been writing about football with a focus on youth development for over 10 years.
