Key points
Latest updates as Manchester United’s young side take on Crystal Palace in the FA Youth Cup semi-final.
Manchester United’s under-18s side have beaten Crystal Palace in FA Youth Cup Final. Check out how it all happened in our LIVE blog.
Who was United’s man of the match in the FA Youth Cup semi-final vs Crystal Palace?
Full-time of extra-time!
Manchester United win!
Goals from JJ Gabriel and Chido Obi.
Obi and James Overy with the assists.
[Link]GOAL! 2-1 to United
Chido Obi has scored the winner!
With a couple of minutes remaining from extra-time, Chido Obi has scored.
An incisive pass from James Overy to set him up.
[Link]Half-time in extra-time
Neither team has been able to make a breakthrough and we are 15 minutes away from the game heading to a penalty shootout.
[Link]Gabriel puts in a dangerous cross
It comes to nothing, but good to see the youngster pushing the issue.
[Link]The second half has resumed
Still 0-0 with United searching for a breakthrough.
Palace come closest, with Cameron Byrne-Hughes forced into a save.
[Link]Helafu with another shot
Forces Palace’s ‘keeper into another save. Good attacking intent from the full-back.
[Link]Still 0-0
United will be pleased with the way the opening 25 minutes have gone. Just need a goal.
[Link]Double save!
Yuel Helafu powers through and unleashes a shot, parried way by the Palace goalkeeper
Moments later Chido Obi’s header is saved. United are on top now.
[Link]Tentative start from both sides
It has been a slow start from both teams with Palace showing some early attacking intent, but United have dealt with it all fairly easily.
[Link]Keep an eye on Samuel Lusale
Samuel Lusale is on the bench – facing his former team after quitting Palace’s academy to join United in 2024
JJ Gabriel is the star man to watch among the starters, United’s top scorer this season at youth level
[Link]Final opponents set
The winners of the semi-final will face Manchester City, who beat Blackburn in their semi-final.
City will host the Final, and while this will give them an advantage, United’s under-18s won away at City in the league earlier this year.
[Link]How Manchester United reached the semi-final
United have beaten Peterborough, Oxford United and Sunderland to reach the semi-finals. United won 3-2 against the Black Cats in the quarter-final, with Noah Ajayi, Chido Obi and Nathaniel Brown on the scoresheet.
JJ Gabriel has been a key contributor through the competition too, scoring twice in previous rounds.
[Link]First of two Palace clashes
This FA Youth Cup semi-final is the first of two huge games for Manchester United’s under-18s against Crystal Palace.
The second is the Premier League Cup Final, which is being held at Selhurst Park later in April.
[Link]Centre-backs all included
It is notable to see Dan Armer, Albert Mills and Godwill Kukonki all involved. There would have been a temptation to call them into the first team amid a growing centre-back crisis.
[Link]
Starting line-up
Here is a look at how Manchester United will line-up…
Byrne-Hughes, Helafu, Mills, Armer, Kukonki, McCormack, Thwaites, Brown, Gabriel, Obi, Ajayi
Subs: Overy, Heath, Watson, McEvoy, Shah, Lusale, Bradbury
[Link]When is kick-off?
Kick-off for Manchester United vs Crystal Palace is at 7pm, with the game taking place at Old Trafford.
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