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Wednesday 12 February 2025 20:54
Manchester United progressed into the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals with a third five-goal haul in as many games to convincingly defeat Chelsea at Leigh Sports Village.
The young Reds had gone behind under the lights on Wednesday night but showed grit, composure and then real quality to establish a two-goal lead by half-time, helped by two goals from James Scanlon.
A further two from Chido Obi saw the Danish striker complete a hat-trick and widen United’s advantage further in a scintillating performance from Adam Lawrence’s side.
United, 11-time winners of the competition, will now face Arsenal away from home in the FA Youth Cup quarter-final.
Well done, lads!
Ready for the Youth Cup! Video
Ready for the Youth Cup!
Youth Cup ready | Our U18s are at Leigh ahead of their fifth-round tie v Chelsea. It’s live on MUTV (UK/IRE only)…
It was clear within seconds of the start that this fixture would be played at a higher intensity than the previous rounds. Chelsea were inside United’s box after only ten as both sides sought to assert themselves by pressing high. One such charge on Chelsea’s goal nearly allowed Chido Obi in as United, having begun with plenty of defensive work to do, found some dominance.
James Scanlon came closest for the Reds. Jaydan Kamason, lively from right-back, crossed deep to the left post where Jack Fletcher waited. His shot rebounded off the crossbar into the feet of Scanlon, who was denied by a scrambling Hudson Sands in the Blues net.
It was against this dominance — United also had half-chances through Fletcher and Obi — that Chelsea took the lead. Kiano Dyer hounded Gabriele Biancheri off the ball, drove forward and teed up Reggie Walsh to strike powerfully past Will Murdock.
A dinked free-kick nearly allowed them a chance at doubling that 20th-minute advantage, but United were alive to it and as we counter-attacked, regained the confidence with which we had started the game.
With rare space to consider his options, Kamason spotted a run off the shoulder and executed well. Obi showed good strength to latch onto it, holding off his man, letting it bounce and finishing clinically past Sands.
The game’s frenetic nature continued, Obi winning possession high up and playing it wide left to his striking partner Biancheri. His effort went wide.
United were in the groove now, though. Once more earning the ball with hard running, Lawrence’s lads ploughed forward. Captain Devaney fed it out to Fletcher, who gave it on further to Kamason. He ran, held his marker off and then waited. And waited. Until Scanlon was ready to be found. Kamason delivered a delicate cross and Scanlon headed home to end his run.
United’s forwards celebrate Scanlon’s second goal, which made it 3-1.
Four minutes later, an impressive pass on the half-volley from Jack Fletcher set Scanlon clear, this time one-on-one with Sands, with only one defending chasing him down. He showed good pace and finished well.
Fine work on the left from Harry Amass — a brave header and then quick feet — set up Biancheri for the final chance of a thrilling first half, but Chelsea blocked the resulting shot well.
Soon after the break, Murdock saved fantastically to deny Dyer a second of the evening and Chelsea a way back into the game. Instead, United’s advantage widened when Jack Fletcher’s pressure won possession on the edge of Chelsea’s area and Biancheri teed Obi up to score.
The Danish forward completed his hat-trick — emulating Biancheri’s third-round feat — when pouncing on a loose header after Fletcher’s 64th-minute free-kick.
Hat-trick hero Chido Obi.
United had further chances despite a string of substitutions for both sides — and the nature of the scoreline — reducing the match’s intensity. Obi hit the side-netting once and then set substitute Victor Musa, who opened his body up and curled one just wide of the left post.
Chelsea sub Chizaram Ezenwata, meanwhile, hit wide of the right post when one-on-one with Murdock before both Amir Ibragimov and Musa went close for the Reds.
United now progress to take on Arsenal away in the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals. The game will be played in north London.
Obi congratulates Kamason on one of his fine assists.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Murdock; Kamason, Munro, Armer, Amass; Devaney (c) (Thwaites 79), T. Fletcher; Scanlon (Ibragimov 79), J. Fletcher (Fitzgerald 74), Biancheri (Musa 62); Obi.
Unused subs: Byrne-Hughes; Kukonki, Lacey.
Goals: Obi 26, 50, 64, Scanlon 34, 38 | Walsh 21
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Wednesday 12 February 2025 20:54
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