How Chido Obi-Martin fared on Man Utd U18 debut, as Bendito Mantato scores two vs Sunderland

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On Saturday it was not just the senior Manchester United team who picked up a big win, but the U18s were also in form.

Erik ten Hag will be thrilled to finally get his Manchester United side back in the win column after a five-game winless streak.

United beat Brentford 2-1 at Old Trafford with academy graduate Alejandro Garnacho among the goals – along with Rasmus Hojlund.

Earlier on Saturday, up in the northeast of England at the Academy of Light Adam Lawrence’s U18 United side got back to winning ways after the loss to Spurs last time out.

The game was a seven-goal thriller and even featured the long-anticipated debuts of Chido Obi-Martin and Samuel Lusale.

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Chido Obi-Martin debuts for Manchester United

Saturday saw what felt like a new era for the U18 side as they took on Sunderland away from home.

This is because it saw Bendito Mantato and Amir Ibragimov, and interestingly, the current top goal scorer for the season, Gabriele Biancheri, absent.

With Biancheri’s absence, United showed zero issues in scoring goals by beating Sunderland 4-3.

Bendito Mantato was on fire in the game as he bagged two goals inside 25 minutes, all before Sunderland pulled one back in the 42nd minute.

After half-time, Reece Munro re-established the two-goal advantage. However, a five-minute double from the Black Cats then saw the game go right to the wire.

Jim Thwaites however came in clutch, scoring the winner in the 87th minute and maintaining United’s 100% record in the process.

In the second-half, we also saw Obi-Martin finally make his United debut as he replaced Victor Musa in the 63rd minute.

His first game of the season and so some rustiness can be expected – he will surely be gutted not to score, although we imagine it is just a matter of time.

• READ: Who is Chido Obi? Wonderkid who has left Arsenal to join Manchester United move

The new wave of U18s have arrived with Bendito Mantato the star

Last season, while the U18s were on their way to winning a treble, United insiders claimed the next group of U18s would be even better.

At the time this seemed impossible – but now we are inclined to believe it as we are witnessing first-hand as the new U18 regulars begin to make their mark.

Mantato has been leading the charge, but Ibragimov has also been in excellent form this season. Jacob Devaney has made an instant impact in midfield and Godwill Kukonki looks like a serious defensive talent.

These players already look comfortable at the higher level, and adding Obi-Martin to the list is an extremely exciting thought.