#Stephen Mfuni

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Manchester City U18s 1-2 Manchester United U18s

MANCHESTER IS RED (go with it)

When United are mint, everything is mint, and fuck me are United's Under-18s mint - and also double winners. Up the fucking reds!

United started strongly at Leigh Sports Village, with a driving run and fizzing shot from Ethan Williams in the 3rd minute testing City keeper Brits. Three minutes later and Ruben Curley was doing the exact same again, but to no avail. Then, one minute later, magic happened.

A deep ball from just over the halfway line by Nolan lofted into Ethan Wheatley's path perfectly, but the touch and control to bring it down into a shooting action was technique Dimitar Berbatov would have applauded. Unreal composure and confidence, and topped off with a great finish at the near post past the stunned Brits.

City came back at United, and the game opened up into more of a back-and-forth affair, trading shots on goal, but United's organisation kept a very tight defensive structure and limited the Citizens from any real threat on Elyh Harrison's goal - not that the wunderkind needs too much help. Kid's a future star keeper.

The middle of the half approached and Harrison punts a goal kick up field towards RW James Scanlon. The Gibraltan international nods the ball wide to attacking full back James Nolan, who drives a curled pass forward along the ground into the path of Ethan Wheatley. A defender slides, he knocks it, but Wheatley has the pace. He nips in, rounds the keeper, slots home. 2-0 United and LSV is in bits. SCENES.

City kept up the battle though, and a great killer through ball nearly opened United up in the 34th minute but for a huge body interception and block by Harrison in net. City captain Heskey was potentially fouled in the United box by Jack Kingdon - no foul given though - but otherwise come half time there could be no complaints at United's lead.

The second half was more City, with United making substitutes for rotation's sake but also due to the dearth of depth in the first team squad meaning certain promising youngsters have been requested by Erik Ten Hag for Wednesday's Premier League game against Sheffield United.

Both sides had reasonable chances on goal but nothing too serious until Stephen Mfuni nodded home from a corner to give City five minutes of hope... which was almost realised but for a fantastic full-stretch save by Harrison off Alfa-Ruprecht's header.

City's play and persistence did deserve a goal, and with the arguable penalty in the first half, on another day it could have been a different affair. It is nice to see the best two teams make the final though, and make it a memorable contest.

It's the result that matters though, and the silverware is ours. The league and now the cup. What a bunch of lads.

Two games remain this season - both at home. Sunderland visit us this Saturday, and then there's one last game versus Everton on May 4th. Lets end strong. GGMU.

[kundayy]

[ 3 - 0 ] Stephen Mfuni｜Manchester City U18 vs Leeds United U18

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Manchester United U18s 0-4 Manchester City U18s

Welp, there goes the invincible season again. And it's to City - again.

It's always gutting to lose to a rival, but there's no shame in losing to a good team.

It should be said that going invincible is heralded as such a big achievement BECAUSE it's nigh on impossible, and given that United are chasing City's shadow over academy development... last year's success and this year's continuation of that form are highly commendable.

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Eight minutes in and great work from Chido Obi set up James Scanlon who hit the underside of the bar and the ball shot back out. Gutting.

Playmaking from Fitzgerald and great running between the lines from Scanlon opened City up again 16 minutes in but the Citizens defended well and shut United out.

City took the lead after 21 minutes through Ryan McAidoo, with a counter-attack putting United on the back foot and a great throughball beating Dan Armer's interception and the outrushing Will Murdock and chaser Tyler Fletcher from stopping McAidoo.

Chido Obi and James Scanlon continued to terrorise the City backline, and perhaps it was City's attack that made Dan Armer et al look so shoddy.

Half time and 1-0 down isn't too bad, but the second half saw United punished.

McAidoo again with some strong running just drove past United's midfield, down the flank, and squared in for Reigan Heskey (you know that name) to tap home and double City's lead, but Murdock will bear some blame with a poor sprawling dive.

Harry Amass, who had felt fairly anonymous by this point, whipped in a ferocious cross for the head of Chido Obi in the 52nd minute which again narrowly missed going in.

It felt like one of those days, and when Tyler Fletcher saw a shot saved on the line in the 63rd minute... yeah. Confirmed.

Stephen Mfuni then went and made it 3-0 in the 65th minute with a deep corner whipped in and the City left-back making a huge leap to nod down and into the United goal.

City would round out the stomping with a goal from Luca Fletcher in the 75th minute; a very heavy touch from Jim Thwaites putting City back in on the United box after it was initially scrambled clear and then a quick bit of one-touch passing put Fletcher in to pivot and bury it bottom left, far out of the reach of Murdock.

Chido Obi kept showing his qualities and in the 77th won a duel, then beats another two, then beats his original man again, and squeezed a shot off at the near post which was saved and forced out for a corner.

He has the strength, balance, grit, and determination this kid - I'd be very surprised if he didn't get A cameo for the first team this season. Same goes for Gabi Biancheri though. Two absolute goal baggers vs Hojlund and Zirkzee completely bereft of goals, but equally I understand why they're playing U18 and U21 football to blood them in steadily - no point rushing people and killing confidence or safety.

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So yeah, a rubbish defeat but littered with positives and on a different day United could have scored two and stopped 1-2 of City's first goals and then the mentality... maybe that sees us through. But it didn't today, so we go again.

In better news, the U16s managed a 6-2 win over City, so the battle for the city continues.

Next up for United's under-18s are West Ham United in the U18 Premier League Cup quarter-final, away from home. A tough tie with blustery, cold conditions forecast. Off the back of this result... we might not bounce back just yet.