Key points
With the transfer window now closed, Manchester United’s academy will be keen to impress with space in the squad to step up.
Adam Lawrence’s U18 side were back in action on Tuesday morning, with every player knowing they have a golden chance thanks to a lack of transfer business in the first-team
Manchester United’s lack of arrivals compared to departures will mean that Ruben Amorim may be forced to use the academy.
However, for the U18s Tuesday morning was not one of the classic performances we have come to expect, losing to West Ham 5-4 on penalties.
United’s defence of the U18 Premier League Cup came to an end and it was a second loss in a row after Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing by Man City.
Despite the penalities defeat, Tyler Fletcher was a standout for United in the game which is no shock.
Follow below for all the action on Tuesday morning as it happened.
West Ham 2-2 (Fletcher, Scanlon) Manchester United
READ: Man Utd under-18s top scorers and assists in 2024/25, all results
United’s PL Cup defence ends
Adam Lawrence’s pursuit of a second successive U18 Premier League Cup crown has come to an end.
[Link]Bradbury smashes it over the bar
It’s all in West Ham’s hands now as Louie Bradbury’s strike sails over the bar
[Link]Musa misses for United
An awful penalty from Victor Musa is saved letting West Ham back into the shootout.
[Link]2-0 United
James Scanlon scores his, putting it in the corner with the goalkeeper again just unable to reach it. Great penalty.
[Link]West Ham miss
West Ham’s No.11 has failed to put the Hammers on the scoreboard as he missed the target completely.
[Link]1-0 United
Thwaites tucks it away very well with the goalkeeper diving the right way but unable to reach it.
[Link]James Scanlon hits the post
So close for Scanlon as his cross ends up almost sneaking in at the back post before it hit the post.
[Link]West Ham very close to a winner
With five minutes left, West Ham have just seen a one-on-one roll wide.
[Link]Huge save from Murdock
West Ham had the chance to win it with a one-on-one but Will Murdock made himself big and kept it out. Brilliant goalkeeping.
[Link]Fitzgerald chance
Fitzgerald will feel he should have scored the winner as he raced through on goal but the West Ham defender did ever so well to get back and make a goal-saving tackle.
[Link]United come close
Jayce Fitzgerald picked out a nice through ball to James Scanlon who forced a save, but then Fitzgerald almost got a chance on the rebound but it ended up going over.
[Link]West Ham 2-2 United
With just over 10 minutes remaining, the two sides remain on level terms. If it stays this ways then United will be set for extra-time and even penalties.
[Link]Thwaites hits the post
Jim Thwaites almost added another excellent free-kick to his highlight reel but the post denies him.
[Link]2-2 Manchester United
James Scanlon does well to score when set through on goal by Tyler Fletcher who played an excellent ball from his own half.
Assist from Tyler Fletcher
[Link]2-1 West Ham
Another disastrous start to a half as West Ham score inside a minute of the re-start. Almost identical to Saturday against City.
[Link]1-1 West Ham
West Ham have been dominant for most of the half after conceding, and have equalised in the 41st minute.
[Link]United come close
After a nicely worked move down the left between Jim Thwaites and Victor Musa, the No.9 sees his shot from a tricky angle go agonisingly wide.
[Link]West Ham in the ascendancy
After conceding, West Ham have been the better side, United need to be careful here.
[Link]1-0 Manchester United
Tyler Fletcher scores from a corner to give United the lead after an excellent delivery. Reece Munro should claim the assist as he won the ball before Fletcher turned it home.
Assist Reece Munro.
[Link]No Chido Obi!
The big absentee in the team is Chido Obi with the 17-year-old likely set to face Spurs for the U21s on Friday. Amir Ibragimov is absent again too leaving United slightly light up top.
Huge chance for some younger U18s here such as James Bailey and Louie Bradbury who is on the bench.
[Link]Manchester United line-up
XI: Murdock, Kamason, Mills, Munro (C), Kukonki, T. Fletcher, Scanlon, Fitzgerald, Bailey, Thwaites, Musa
Subs: Armer, Byrne-Hughes, Plunkett, Shah, Bradbury
[Link]How to watch
Manchester United U18 against West Ham in the U18 Premier League Cup quarter-final will be live on MUTV with coverage starting at 10.55 am.
Kick-off is set for 11 am.
[Link]Welcome to live coverage of Man Utd U18 vs West Ham
Ahead of the 11am kick-off, we’ll have all the latest news and updates before providing live coverage of the Premier League Cup quarter-final.
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