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U18s: United 5 PNE 2
Friday 17 January 2025 20:53
Manchester United’s Under-18s progressed to the FA Youth Cup fifth round with a 5-2 victory over Preston North End on Friday night.
The young Reds had convincingly seen off Coventry City in round three – scoring three goals in the opening 12 minutes – and wasted no time in proving themselves against North End, who were 4-1 winners over Liverpool back in December to reach this stage.
After another fast start established a four-goal half-time lead, Adam Lawrence’s side overcame a second-half resurgence from the visitors to triumph and set up a fifth-round tie between the competition’s two most successful clubs: United, with 11 all-time titles, and Chelsea, the nine-time Youth Cup winners. United will be the home side.
Centre-forward Chido Obi’s clever ball forward seven minutes in allowed James Scanlon to cut it back across goal where, after an initially impressive North End goalline clearance, Jack Fletcher pounced to bundle it home.
Fletcher turned provider for United’s second, crossing expertly from a right-sided corner to an unmarked Reece Munro. The captain took full advantage of the space afforded to him and headed down into the bottom left corner.
United carved out further opportunities while mopping up at the back without much trouble. Victor Musa couldn’t quite control Scanlon’s penalty area through ball after 20 minutes, and Scanlon — a Gibraltar international — then had a swerving right-footed shot parried for a corner.
Fletcher proved at the heart of things again for United’s third of the evening. His swerving drive forward ended with Chido Obi pouncing on a loose ball, turning and striking home from close range.
Obi’s second goal — and United’s fourth — required a more scientific finish. This time he created the chance for himself, skipping past his marker with good feet and body movement before facing up the next defender and curling it round him, the goalkeeper and just inside the right post.
The visitors changed shape at half-time and pounced on an early United error, with Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile finishing past Murdock when one-on-one, having won the ball off Dan Armer. United found space to counter-attack almost immediately after the restart but were denied well by the out-rushing Li-Bau Stowell. Still seeking to restore the four-goal advantage, Scanlon shot over from a free-kick, which he’d earned in a good position.
Jack Fletcher celebrates his opening goal with his United team-mates.
But with just a glimpse of a loose pass from United, the hungry visitors capitalised again, swarming forward with Rodriguez-Gentile eventually thrashing it home despite United bodies on the line.
United continued to attack – Harry Amass’ good left-wing cross was cleared for a corner – but North End had the bit between their teeth. They won possession off Jack Fletcher near United’s area, forcing Murdock to come out and smother. A quick free-kick shortly after called Murdock to make a strong save before a hobbling Munro headed the rebound off the line. At the other end, Obi’s left-footed shot was well saved before treatment for Munro’s injury finally tempered a frenetic few minutes.
United regained some composed following the pause, with Jim Thwaites introduced for Jack Fletcher and Munro eventually forced off, Albert Mills his replacement.
North End still push, though, with Murdock saving well from a header just minutes before United found an additional goal to make the final minutes more comfortable. Substitute Amir Ibragimov earned a penalty and duly dispatched it, in Panenka-style, to provide a late cushion.
MATCH DETAILS
United XI: Murdock; Kamason, Munro (c), Armer, Amass; T. Fletcher, J. Fletcher (Thwaites 79), Fitzgerald (Bailey 91); Musa (Ibragimov 64), Obi (Bradbury 91), Scanlon.
Unused subs: Byrne-Hughes; Plunkett.
Goals: J. Fletcher 7, Munro 12, Obi 24, 31, Ibragimov (pen) 90 | Rodriguez-Gentile 49, 56.
Attendance: 1,439.
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Friday 17 January 2025 20:53
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