Manchester United will face neighbours Manchester City in the FA Youth Cup final after beating Crystal Palace 2-1.
Chido Obi’s extra-time winner and JJ Gabriel’s second-half goal secured the victory in a tightly contested semi-final at Old Trafford.
Darren Fletcher’s side will now face Manchester City in early May, with the date and the venue – likely the Etihad Stadium or the Joie Stadium – still to be confirmed.
Gabriel Shines, Obi Seals It
The cagey game was finally unlocked in the 77th minute after an impressive cameo from Samuel Lusale. He found Obi, who then put in the 15-year-old Gabriel after some impressive hold-up play.
Gabriel drove towards goal and produced a chipped finish over the Palace goalkeeper, but the lead was short-lived.
Minutes later, United keeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes fumbled the ball after trying to catch it in the air, and Palace attacker Raihaan Anderson made him pay.
United lost their way after the equaliser, and Palace were firmly on top as the game went into extra-time.
But in the 115th minute, James Overy delivered a defence-splitting ball from the right, and Obi coolly dribbled past the goalkeeper and finished into an empty net.
Academy Stars Impress
First-team coach Tavis Binnion, director of football Jason Wilcox and academy director Stephen Torpey were all in attendance at Old Trafford.
JJ Gabriel will take the headlines after a moment of magic put his side into the lead. His quality continues to shine and build up a reputation that is almost unprecedented in decades for a young player coming through Carrington.
Obi had a rollercoaster evening, missing two big chances but then setting up Gabriel brilliantly for United’s opener. His winner showed his potential if he develops his all-round game further; the composure to dribble past the keeper and finish in the last minutes of extra-time was sublime.
Youth Cup Glory Awaits
With Wilcox and co watching, could Obi and Gabriel play themselves into the first-team’s pre-season plans? There will be spaces up for grabs with the World Cup taking centre stage this summer.
For now, United are in the final once again of the Youth Cup.
It is a competition they have won a record 11 times, the last being in 2022 when Kobbie Mainoo starred.
Man Utd: Cameron Byrne-Hughes; Yuel Helafu, Albert Mills, Daniel Armer (c), Godwill Kukonki; Rafe McCormack, Jim Thwaites; Junior Brown, JJ Gabriel, Noah Ajayi, Chido Obi.
Manchester City await them in a mouth-watering final next month.