Key points
- Palace - Score View post
- United - Miss View post
- Palace - Score View post
- United - Score View post
- Palace - Score View post
- United - Score View post
- Palace - Score View post
- United - Score View post
- Palace - Score View post
- United - Score View post
- Palace - Score View post
- United - Score View post
- 1-0 Manchester United View post
- Confirmed Manchester United XI View post
Manchester United’s U18 side faced Crystal Palace in the Premier League Cup final on Wednesday night. Follow below for all the updates from the match.
Manchester United’s Premier League Cup hopes died an unfortunate death on Wednesday night as Darren Fletcher’s side lost on penalties.
Having held a comfortable 1-0 lead through Noah Ajayi, United then went down to 10-men in controversial circumstances, before Palace equalised.
The game ultimately went all the way to penalties, and United were beaten 6-5.
WHO was Man United’s man of the match in Premier League Cup final defeat?
A painful loss on penalties…
Follow along below for all the latest before, during, and after the match.
- Crystal Palace 1-1 (Ajayi) Manchester United
- Penalties – Palace 6-5 United
United – Score
Ibragimov in the top corner and gets the United fans going afterwards and trying to intimidate the Palace keeper.
Palace 3-4 United
[Link]Palace – Score
Anderson’s penalty off the underside of the crossbar, unsavable.
Palace 2-2 United
[Link]Credit to United
No matter what happens in the lottery of penalties, these 10 players have done so well to hold on and almost nick a win with a numerical advantage.
[Link]Full time
On to penalties we go.
United have made a goalkeeping change with Fred Heath replacing Cameron Byrne-Hughes, big call.
[Link]McEvoy so close!
109th minute – What a chance as Obi sends McEvoy through on goal with a brilliant pass. He beats the defender, but his shot is just over the bar.
[Link]Byrne-Hughes again!
96th minute – Another brilliant save from Byrne Hughes to deny Ben Casey, with the follow-up hitting the crossbar. United holding on with 10 men.
[Link]Good save from Byrne-Hughes
91st minute – Palace almost draw first blood in extra time with a header that forces a save.
[Link]Palace equalise
Awful decision from the referee as he calls for a penalty and red card for Albert Mills as he brings down the Palace defender with virtually no contact.
He pulled the shirt outside the box, but inside the box, nothing. Palace score the penalty, and it looks like we are extra-time bound.
Shambles from the referee.
[Link]Obi scuppers a brilliant move
72nd minute – Amir Ibragimov almost has an assist but Chido Obi takes it off Brown’s toe and knocks it wide.
[Link]Brown close
68th minute – Another quick attacking move from United sees Brown’s shot straight at the goalkeeper. Knocking on the door for a third.
[Link]Substitution
ON: Samuel Lusale OFF: Noah Ajayi
Better not to risk it, but unfortunately, the goalscorer’s night has come to an end. However, he has done his bit.
[Link]Junior Brown so close
54th minute – Excellent pass from Chido Obi finds Junior Brown, who hits the post and somehow it’s not gone in.
[Link]Noah Ajayi injured
51st minute – After terrorising the Palace defence all game, Ajayi is now down getting treatment on his knee, but is walking off the pitch on his own. He appears to be okay, with some slight discomfort, but is on his feet.
Samuel Lusale is warming up.
[Link]Another deadly Thwaites set-piece
47th minute – Thwaites whips a devilish ball into the box, which the keeper cannot hold onto, palming it onto the crossbar.
[Link]Half-time
First-half comes to a close, and United take a deserved 1-0 lead thanks to Noah Ajayi.
[Link]Gabriel close again
36th minute – McCormack’s pass to Gabriel is dummied, with the number 10 getting in behind and trying to round the goalkeeper, only for a vital touch to knock the ball away from him.
[Link]United come close
34th minute – Ajayi does excellently to spin away from his defender before carrying the ball to the edge of the Palace box. Slips a pass to Gabriel, whose effort is in the side netting.
[Link]Palace hit crossbar
30th minute – After Ajayi’s effort, Palace go up the other end and whack the crossbar. Almost 1-1 for the hosts.
[Link]Armer heads over
26th minute – Another perfect Thwaites delivery lands on Armer’s head, but it is over the crossbar, landing on the top of the netting.
[Link]United slicing Palace open
25th minute – United are starting to threaten the Palace goal every time they attack now. This time, Gabriel forces a save.
Momentum with United.
[Link]1-0 Manchester United
19th minute – United are ahead through Noah Ajayi as the German finishes off a wonderful move from the United forwards.
Gabriel and Obi combine before Ajayi finishes the move off with a cool finish.
Excellent football.
Assist: Chido Obi
[Link]Thwaites close from a free-kick
15th minute – Thwaites takes a free-kick in a dangerous position, and the Palace goalkeeper has to get a hand to it as it’s well struck. Close from Thwaites, winning a corner.
The resulting corner sees Gabriel sky his effort.
[Link]First threat from United
7th minute – First time United have played a little bit quicker, and it sees JJ Gabriel almost pick out Chido Obi in behind the defence.
The next attack and another chance with Junior Brown pulling it back to Obi in the box.
Noah Ajayi sees a penalty shout waved away.
[Link]United players out to warm up
With just over half an hour to go, United are out to warm up, including Amir Ibragimov for the first time since 2025.
When did United last win the PL Cup?
It hasn’t been long since United claimed the Premier League Cup trophy, as Adam Lawrence’s treble winners lifted the cup in 2024.
This team included Shea Lacey, Harry Amass and Ethan Wheatley.
[Link]
Jim Thwaites starting
Unsurprisingly, Jim Thwaites starts for United in the final. Ahead of the game, Thwaites revealed his admiration for Lisandro Martinez.
[Link]
Confirmed Manchester United XI
Byrne-Hughes, Helafu, Mills, Armer (c), Kukonki, McCormack, Thwaites, Gabriel, Brown, Obi, Ajayi.
Bench: Heath, Overy, McEvoy, Ibragimov, Lusale
[Link]Amir Ibragimov return expected
After missing all of 2026 to date due to a broken foot, we understand that Amir Ibragimov is back in the squad to face Palace in the Premier League Cup final.
[Link]Chido Obi set for first PL Cup appearance?
After starring last week against Palace, Obi might get another chance to perform in the Premier League Cup final, despite not playing in the tournament this season.
Obi scored and assisted in the FA Youth Cup win, with a display that showed a lot of promise, even earning praise from Rio Ferdinand.
[Link]
Repeat of the FA Youth Cup semi-final
These two sides are very familiar with each other, having competed at Old Trafford last Friday in the FA Youth Cup semi-final.
United were victors and will hope for a similar outcome here.
[Link]
What time does the Premier League Cup final kick off?
The cup final clash kicks off at 7 pm BST at Selhurst Park in South London.
[Link]How to watch Manchester United vs Crystal Palace
The Premier League Cup final will be broadcast live on MUTV and Palace TV, with Selhurst Park also hosting fans in attendance to watch the game.
We will bring you all the latest updates if you aren’t able to tune in.
[Link]Welcome to United in Focus’ live coverage of the U18 Premier League Cup final
Manchester United are at Selhurst Park to compete for the first silverware of the U18 campaign.
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