United youngster bagged sensational hat-trick for the U21s as Michael Carrick watched on

Manchester United Under-21s hosted Sporting Clube de Portugal B on Tuesday night in the Premier League International Cup. Coming off the back of a 2-2 draw on Friday against Fulham, which kept them top of Premier League 2, United were hoping to continue their league form in their final group stage match of the Premier League International Cup. United’s interim manager, Michael Carrick, was at Leigh Sports Village to watch United’s youngsters. First half The young Red Devils took an early lead after just eight minutes. Jayce Fitzgerald danced around three Sporting players before finding James Scanlon on the edge of the box, who curled an effort into the bottom right corner. The Lions hit back almost immediately, though, with Rayhan Momade’s corner flicked on at the near post and finished by Rafael Mota. Malachi Sharpe was a constant threat for United throughout the half, creating chances with crosses into the area and having a shot on goal of his own saved by the keeper’s outstretched foot. United had Sporting pinned in their half for the majority of the first 45 minutes, and the dominance paid off in the 40th minute when Scanlon added his second of the match. The Gibraltar international picked up the ball just inside the half before driving past his marker and firing into the same right corner from 25 yards with a rocket of a shot. Second half Early in the second half, Tyler Fletcher delivered to the back post for an open Tyler Fredricson, who slid in and volleyed over the bar, but the United captain was spared his blushes as the assistant referee flagged for offside. Scanlon then completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute from close range. Jacob Devaney’s ball down the right channel was run onto by Fitzgerald, whose cross was flicked on by Chido Obi for Scanlon to finish at the back post. Sporting made a late comeback charge through Martim Peixoto, who picked his spot past Will Murdock, but it was too little too late for the Portuguese side as United ran out 3-2 winners. United currently top the group with nine points but will need to wait for other results before knowing if they advance, as five out of the eight teams in the group still have fixtures to play. Match facts United: Murdock, Kamason (Devaney 73), Munro (Aljofree 73), Fredricson (C), Leon (Watson 67), T. Fletcher, J. Fletcher, Sharpe (Obi 73), Fitzgerald, Scanlon, Biancheri Subs not used: Heath, Helafu Goals: Scanlon 8, 40, 76 Feature image Dan Mullan via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social 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. You can follow him X: RedYouthUnited.