Key points
Manchester United’s U18 side face Stoke in the conclusion of the league campaign on Saturday morning.
Just five days before Manchester United face City in the FA Youth Cup final, the league campaign drew to a close on Saturday against Stoke City, with three points taken.
United went behind, but two goals and an assist from Noah Ajayi spearheaded the comeback win, as JJ Gabriel also got a goal.
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Now, it’s the big one for United’s U18s. Thursday in the FA Youth Cup final.
You can follow along with all the latest from the match as it happens right here.
- Manchester United (Ajayi x2, Gabriel) 3-1 Stoke
Full-time
United take a 3-1 win to end the league season. Fully deserved and should have been more.
JJ Gabriel is on the floor, looking distraught after the final whistle. Missed a few chances today which means he finishes 2nd in the top scorer charts.
[Link]3-1 Manchester United
Ajayi again! Excellent from Bassirou Nkoto as he pulls it back for Ajayi, who smashes it into the back of the net.
[Link]2-1 Manchester United
Gabriel grabs number 26 this season with a nice, placed finish inside the box. Ajayi deserves credit for creating the goal.
[Link]Ibragimov hits the crossbar
Excellent touch from Ibragimov and an even better effort that beats the goalkeeper, but the crossbar denies him.
[Link]1-1 Manchester United
Noah Ajayi scores a brilliant individual goal. Beats two Stoke defenders before drilling a shot into the bottom corner from outside the box. Emphatic.
[Link]United score but it’s ruled out
Ajayi has the ball in the net, but the ball hit his hand in the build-up.
[Link]Gabriel wins a free-kick
The number nine left his defender for dead with a quick spin resulting in a shirt pull. Dangerous position.
[Link]Stoke City 1-0
Against the run of play, Stoke score with a ball in behind cut back to the edge of the box and a great finish from their number nine.
[Link]McEvoy with an effort from outside the box
Sunderland giving United a lot of space outside the box, and McEvoy tries one, rippling the top of the net.
[Link]JJ Gabriel early chance
Great start by United with Lusale sending a low cross into the number nine, Gabriel. He slides to reach it, but gets under it too much and the effort is over the bar.
[Link]JJ Gabriel looking to claim top scorer position
JJ Gabriel was assumed to have been out of U18 games, rested until the FA Youth Cup final, but with City’s Lamb taking the lead in the scorer charts, he is back today to try and reclaim his lead.
[Link]Confirmed Manchester United XI
Byrne-Hughes; Overy, McCormack, Mills, Plunkett; McEvoy, Ibragimov; Lusale, Gabriel, D. Nkoto; Ajayi
Subs: Heath, Healfu, B. Nkoto, Brown, Bradbury.
[Link]Manchester United preparing for FA Youth Cup final
This game is ultimately just a chance for United to build some momentum heading into Thursday’s Manchester derby against City in the FA Youth Cup final.
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