Key points
Manchester United thrashed Chelsea on Wednesday night in the FA Youth Cup.
Adam Lawrence’s side came into Wednesday’s fixture against Chelsea without a win in three games.
However for the FA Youth Cup fifth round, Manchester United were back at full compliment with about as strong an U18 side as the club could possibly name.
Gabriele Biancheri, Amir Ibragimov and Shea Lacey were all back in the side after recent injury concerns. While Chido Obi and Harry Amass were back from U21 duties.
United reminded everyone why they are the best in the country, smashing Chelsea 5-1 courtesy of an Obi hat-trick and also a brace by Scanlon.
Read below for the game updates as they happened with United heading to the quarter-finals.
Manchester United (Obi x3, Scanlon x2) 5-1 Chelsea
READ: Man Utd under-18s top scorers and assists in 2024/25, all results
United’s reward is quarter-final
This feels like a huge win in United’s efforts to win the tournament with Chelsea among the favourites. By winning here, United have lined up a quarter-final against Arsenal which sees Chido Obi against his former club.
[Link]Full-time
United head to the quarter-finals with an incredibly dominant outing from the Red Devils.
[Link]United come so close
Good football by United which started with Ibragimov and it almost ended with the 16-year-old as he narrowly missed as he slid in to get on the end of Musa’s cross/shot.
[Link]5-1 Manchester United
Hat-trick for Chido Obi! There is no stopping this kid as he finishes after Chelsea makes a mess of defending a cross in from a free-kick. The Dane’s positioning comes in clutch as he was the only player who waited and didn’t rush toward the initial ball in.
[Link]4-1 Manchester United
Game over as Chido scores his second of the game with Biancheri grabbing the assist with a pullback. Obi finished the chance well.
Goal – Obi
Assist – Biancheri
[Link]Brilliant save from Murdock
Murdock keeps out a sure goal at point-blank range! Excellent from the youngster.
[Link]Here we go for the second half!
Lawrence will have told his players a simple message… more of the same!
[Link]Half-time
The first-half is over and Manchester United are back to their very best. Scanlon with a brace and Obi with one sees United lead 3-1 at the break. Kamason also deserves credit for his pair of assists.
[Link]3-1 Manchester United
Scanlon gets his second of the night after latching onto a fabulous ball from Jack Fletcher. United have one foot in the quarter-finals.
Goal – Scanlon
Assist – J. Fletcher
[Link]2-1 Manchester United
James Scanlon scores after a brilliant run from Jaydan Kamason which he finished by picking out a wonderful cross. Really good header by Scanlon too.
Goal – Scanlon
Assist – Kamason
[Link]Biancheri comes close
United have responded so well to the goal conceded and Biancheri almost scored with his shot from a tight angle going wide.
[Link]1-1 Manchester United
Chido Obi converts with a great finish for his fifth in three FA Youth Cup games, showing immense speed and strength, after a brilliant over-the-top ball from Jaydan Kamason. Game on.
Goal – Obi
Assist – Kamason
[Link]Chelsea 1-0
Biancheri has the ball stolen off him – with what looks to be a foul – and Chelsea then runs through with their No.10 scoring, but Murdock should do better. Against the run of play, United will be confident at getting back into this.
[Link]United’s high press troubling Chelsea
Chelsea keep trying to play out from the back and United keep catching them, sooner or later the Red Devils will make good on a chance.
[Link]So close for United!
United hit the bar and then forced a goalline stop within seconds of each other!
A great cross from Kamason with Biancheri hitting the bar before Scanlon’s follow-up was frantically stopped by the Chelsea goalkeeper.
Getting close.
[Link]Chido Obi chance
Good ball from Scanlon to find Chido Obi who had made a smart run. His shot was saved easily, but another chance where United have got at Chelsea here.
[Link]Chance for United
Jack Fletcher took the free-kick and whipped it right onto Daniel Armer’s head but he got his angles wrong and it went over the bar.
[Link]United free-kick
United have won a free-kick on the edge of the box… a dangerous position, if only Jim Thwaites was starting…
[Link]Cagey start
Neither site has come out of the blocks fast here, but Chelsea has had more possession.
[Link]How to watch Manchester United U18 vs Chelsea
The game will be live on MUTV for subscribers to watch live – and will also be available on Chelsea’s website with a membership.
[Link]Manchester United are at full strength…
The past few weeks had seen United weakened by injuries but tonight, Lawrence’s side are at full strength.
Biancheri, Obi, Fletcher twins, Scanlon, Devaney, Ibragimov, Lacey and Thwaites all in the squad… Tonight could be fireworks!
[Link]Manchester United XI
Murdock; Kamason, Munro, Armer, Amass; Devaney, T. Fletcher; Scanlon, J. Fletcher, Biancheri; Obi
Subs: Byrne-Hughes, Kukonki, Fitzgerald, Ibragimov, Thwaites, Lacey, Musa
[Link]Expected XI for United
Ahead of the line-ups being announced, here is our expected XI…
Murdock; Kamason, Munro, Kukonki, Amass; Fletcher, Fitzgerald; Lacey, Thwaites, Scanlon; Obi
[Link]‘Fantastic occasion’
Speaking at the weekend in preview of tonight’s game, Lawrence was adamant about the magnitude of the outing against Chelsea.
“It’s going to be a fantastic occasion, they’re the nights that the lads are working for over the years, to be able to play in that type of fixture…”
[Link]Manchester United U18 vs Chelsea live blog
Welcome to United In Focus’ coverage of the FA Youth Cup fifth-round tie against Chelsea.
Follow along for all the latest ahead of the 7 pm kick-off.
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