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Friday 28 February 2025 21:50
Manchester United’s excellent FA Youth Cup campaign continued with a 3-2 quarter-final victory at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
The young Reds were dominant in north London and took a 36th-minute lead when Jack Fletcher curled one home from the edge of the box.
But, in a highly entertaining game, the hosts hit back, as Louis Copley chipped home towards the end of the first half.
Arsenal found the first blow after the break, with Max Dowman earning and converting a penalty. United found belief and quality to get themselves back into the game. Right-back Jaydan Kamason found the all-important equaliser, thrashing one home past Jack Porter with six minutes of normal time left.
Three substitutes then combined in extra-time to put United ahead, with Jim Thwaites sending Samuel Lusale down the left wing and Bendito Mantato tapping home.
United progress into a first Youth Cup semi-final since 2022, when a team including Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho won the competition.
United celebrate Jack Fletcher’s first-half goal.
United settled well into the unusual surroundings, and established an air of dominance after a back-and-forth opening first minutes. Signs of the young Reds’ quality came with hints of chances. Victor Musa backheeled Harry Amass’s clipped ball over the top, forcing good last-ditch defending from Arsenal. Jack Fletcher’s ball to James Scanlon did the same. Scanlon, meanwhile, called Porter into action with a teasing cross. The Gunners goalkeeper clawed it away from his near post.
Arsenal showed their excellence on the counter-attack. Max Dowman’s smooth running drew a foul, and a early booking, from United captain Jacob Devaney. Jaydan Kamason put in a fantastic late tackle after Dowman’s pass through the middle.
Amass’s driven shot drew a good palmed save from porter and Kamason blazed over as United’s pressure built. Scanlon stretched to poke one wide after a goalmouth scramble and Gabriele Biancheri saw a good cross cleared before being tackled himself when driving down the area’s left side.
Eventually, after a spell of sustained possession, Jack Fletcher carved space for himself and curled one in to give United a deserved lead.
Fletcher celebrates the opener.
Arsenal’s response was strong, though. They continued to find space on the counter-attack and made it count on one occasion, only six minutes later, when Louis Copley chipped Murdock to restore parity before the break. Fletcher tested Porter again late on after Kamason’s strong footwork allowed him space to centre.
A strong start to the second half from the hosts was temporarily quelled by United, but one long run from Dowman drew a foul inside the area and the Arsenal no.10 converted the subsequent penalty.
Stung to be behind, United’s tempo and intensity fell briefly, but the young Reds regained their belief and began to dominate again.
Fletcher’s left-footed effort fizzed past the right post was the only chance of note until Kamason smashed one past Porter on the right side of the area.
United pushed for a winner but it was Arsenal who found the best chance late on. The lively Dowman skipped forward once more only to be with a fantastic save from Murdock, getting down to his left. Amass showed good footwork to then escape from danger.
Kamason celebrates his 84th-minute equaliser.
Eight minutes into extra-time, three substitutes combined to restore United’s lead. Jim Thwaites’s long-ball found Samuel Lusale, who produced an excellent bit of wing play to beat his man and lay a cross on a plate for Bendito Mantato. He tapped home to spark wild celebrations.
Adam Lawrence addresses his team before extra-time.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Murdock; Kamason, Munro, Armer (Kukonki 91), Amass; Devaney (c) (Ibragimov 53), T. Fletcher (Thwaites 82); Scanlon, J. Fletcher (Lusale 90+1), Biancheri; Musa (Mantato 71).
Unused subs: Byrne-Hughes, Mills.
Goals: J. Fletcher 37, Kamason 84, Mantato 103 | Copley 43, Dowman pen 56.
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Friday 28 February 2025 21:50
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