Manchester United’s 2022/23 FA Youth Cup campaign got off to a flier away at Crystal Palace.
The reigning champions were handed a tough knockout tie against Palace, who sit third in the under-18s south division.
United won the trophy for a record 11th time last season, but were without stars Alejandro Garnacho and Charlie McNeill, who scored 12 goals combined in the tournament last season. They have since moved up.
Isak Hansen-Aaroen, Kobbie Mainoo, Marc Jurado and Rhys Bennett have all either moved up or were in Spain, leaving the team with a new look side.
A handful of players who did feature in Erik ten Hag’s training camp in Spain did fly back, including midfielder Dan Gore, Maxi Oyedele, and Tyler Fredricson, who played 45 minutes against Cadiz.
The match was held at Selhurst Park in freezing and foggy conditions – which the young United side were not put off by.
Manchester United win 3-1
Here is a look at how United lined up for the fixture…
Elyh Harrison; Louis Jackson, Sonny Aljofree, Tyler Fredricson; Maxi Oyedele, Dan Gore, James Nolan, Sam Mather; Ethan Williams, Victor Musa, Manni Norkett.
United took an early lead after a break into the penalty area saw the ball fall into the path of Maxi Oyedele, who lashed it home.
Oyedele was a substitute for much of the FA Youth Cup winning run last season and now has a more prominent role. He shone at both ends of the pitch, breaking up the play well.
Palace hit back soon after, forcing an excellent save from Elyh Harrison, a summer signing from Stevenage.
On the counter-attack a sweeping pass forward from Ethan Williams was inch-perfect for Manni Norkett, who scored his seventh goal of the season.
At the other end, Harrison made a couple more saves before Palace’s goalkeeper saved two headers from Victor Musa, who was making his FA Youth Cup debut.
Palace made their move in the second half, finally beating Harrison to score in the 53rd minute to make it 2-1.
Dan Gore, who captained the side, was a force for United in midfield throughout, making smart decisions with his passes and winning his duels.
Musa almost extended United’s lead, firing over, and he was substituted on the hour mark for midfielder Jack Moorhouse.
Having steadied the game, and brought on forward Ethan Wheatley, United went on to wrap up the win with an excellent goal from Sam Mather.
Receiving the ball on the edge of the area, Mather cut inside and curled the ball into the top corner to make it 3-1, to score his first goal of the season.
The England youth international played a key role in United winning the competition last season, and once again he provided a touch of game-changing quality when it was needed.
Gore almost added a fourth in injury-time when his effort from the edge of the area hit the bar.
Into round four
This was a tough away tie which United did very well to win comfortably, testament to the talent in the academy.
There is a long way to go to retain the trophy – but this side really have a strong chance and will be full of confidence heading into the next round.
United will face the winner of Stoke City and Blackpool away from home in the fourth round, to be played in January 2023.
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