Premier League Cup final Man Utd 2-1 Man City, key moments as Ethan Wheatley leads trophy win

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Manchester United’s under-18 side have been in action in the Premier League Cup final against Manchester City.

A crowd at Leigh Sports Village of more than 7,000 fans watched the clash between two of the top academy teams in the country, battling it out for silverware, with Manchester United coming out on top.

Here is a look at how Manchester United’s side lined up…

XI: Elyh Harrison; Harry Amass, Jack Kingdon, Louis Jackson, James Nolan; Finley McAllister, James Scanlon, Ruben Curley, Jack Fletcher; Ethan Williams, Ethan Wheatley.

Subs: Habeeb Ogunneye, Bendito Mantato, Shea Lacey, Jacob Devaney, Gabriele Biancheri.

• READ: Meet Manchester United’s 2023/24 under-18s title winning wonderkids

Manchester United v City Premier League Cup final key moments

• 3 min: Ethan Williams comes close early on for United with the first shot of the game, saved.
• 6 min: Ruben Curley is the next to force a save with a shot from the edge of the box.
• 8 min: GOAL! 1-0 Ethan Wheatley gives Manchester Untied the lead with a stunning half-volley from a tight angle.
• 11 min: Ethan Williams tests the goalkeeper again with another powerful shot from distance.
• 24 min: GOAL! 2-0 Ethan Wheatley does it again! James Nolan started a counter-attack with defence splitting pass, for the striker to round the goalkeeper and score.
• 34 min: Elyh Harrison makes his first save of the night from a City attack.
• Half-time: Triple change as United take Wheatley, Amass and Jackson off for Ogunneye, Mantato and Biancheri. The trio taken off will be needed in the first team squad tomorrow night.
• 59 min: Gabriele Biancheri hits the post, after a good cross from James Scanlon.
• 72 min: Shea Lacey comes on for Jack Fletcher, who played well and caused City problems.
• 86 min: GOAL: 2-1 City score a header from the corner after Elyh Harrison had made a good save from open play.
• 90+1: Harrison makes a crucial late save in stoppage time to deny City an equaliser from close range.
• 90+4: An even better one-handed diving save from Harrison to keep United in it. Biancheri almost makes it 3-1 at the other end.
• FULL-TIME: Manchester United hold on and win the Premier League Cup with a 2-1 win.

Manchester United were deserving winners, dominating City for much of the game, but lacked the ruthless edge to put it out of sight.

City gained a foothold in the game during the last 15 minutes and made a contest of it by pulling a goal back, but United were able to hold on and get the win.

The players flocked to celebrate with goalkeeper Elyh Harrison at full-time, paying tribute to his two late saves.

This is the first time the club has won the Premier League Cup, a tournament created in 2013/14.

United can win a third trophy next month when as winners of the Premier League North, they take on the South winners, Chelsea, for the under-18s national title.

Manchester United route to Premier League Cup final

Manchester United came through the group stage, with two wins out of three.

• 4-1 v Reading: Wheatley, Biancheri (3)
• 0-1 v Wolves
• 5-1 v Southampton: Wheatley (4), Biancheri

The team then won two knockout rounds to set up a final against rivals City.

• 4-2 v Arsenal (aet): Kingdon, Williams (2), Jackson
• 5-0 v Crystal Palace: McAllister, Amass, Wheatley (2), Biancheri

READ MORE: Join the conversation with the United in Focus Whatsapp group