Manchester United have confirmed there will be a sell-out crowd at Old Trafford for the FA Youth Cup final.
United’s U18s host Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night and the club’s youngsters will play in front of a full capacity Old Trafford as they bid to win the Youth Cup. More than 70,000 tickets have been sold for the match, including 6,000 away fans.
United are looking to win the Youth Cup for the first time since 2011. Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Ravel Morrison featured in that side, but the club’s latest youngsters, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Dan Gore and Charlie McNeill, are now looking to extend United’s rich history in the prestigious competition after a memorable campaign led by manager Travis Binnion.
The Reds have won the Youth Cup (10) more times than any club and they’ll be bidding to extend that record.
It has been a miserable season at United and the club’s youngsters have been the only positive.
Follow the blog below for live updates throughout from Old Trafford.
Steven Railston
United fans go wild as Garnacho scores twice
A number of Manchester United supporters have reacted to highly-rated attacker Alejandro Garnacho scoring twice late on to secure the club their first FA Youth Cup title since 2011, beating Nottingham Forest 3-1 at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
After seeing Rhys Bennett’s 13th-minute header canceled out by Forest’s Joshua Powell just a few minutes before half-time, United restored their lead with just 12 minutes left on the clock through the popular Garnacho, who scored from the penalty spot. He felt Aaron Bott the wrong way in the Forest goal to all but seal the Under-18s their first Youth Cup crown in 11 years.
However, United were fortunate to earn the penalty that put one hand on the trophy. Zach Abbott clearly caught Garnacho after taking too heavy a touch, but the foul was made outside the penalty area and a free-kick should have been awarded.
Read what the fans said here.
KEY EVENT
CHAMPIONS!
Glory, glory, Man United.
Steven Railston
Here we go…
United are about to lift the trophy.
Steven Railston
What a night at Old Trafford
KEY EVENT
United player ratings as Garnacho and Bennett star in Youth Cup win
Radek Viteck
A good performance was overshadowed by an error for the Forest goal. 5
Mark Jury
Supplemented the attacks well and played some dangerous balls in behind the lines. 6
Rhys Bennett
A real captain’s performance. A big goal in a big game and defended superbly. 8
Read the full ratings here.
Steven Railston
Have your say here
We want to hear your ratings on a special night.
FT – MUN 3-1 NOTKEY EVENT
FULL TIME!
UNITED WIN THE FA YOUTH CUP!
90 + 5′ – MUN 3-1 NOTKEY EVENT
GOAL! 3-1 UNITED!
GOAL! 3-1 UNITED!
GARNACHO AGAIN!
90 + 2′ – MUN 2-1 NOTRichard Fay
CHANCE!
United should have a third. Garnacho breaks at pace but only has eyes for goal as he blazes over the bar. Had he past his side of him would have secured the cup.
90′ – MUN 2-1 NOTSteven Railston
Eight minutes added on
Wow, that’s some time left to play.
88′ – MUN 2-1 NOTSteven Railston
The players are fatigued
Every youngster on that pitch has worked their socks off tonight.
86′ – MUN 2-1 NOTSteven Railston
Mather eats off
Mather comes off.
Aljofree comes on.
That’s a winger off for a defend.
84′ – MUN 2-1 NOTKEY EVENT
67,492 at Old Trafford
That is outstanding.
81′ – MUN 2-1 NOTSteven Railston
Bennett gets a yellow
United just need to see this game out.
77′ – MUN 2-1 NOTRichard Fay
Garnacho covers in style
Never a penalty, but what a cool finish.
Garnacho hasn’t done much tonight but he nipped in to win the penalty and then finished it with ease.
75′ – MUN 2-1 NOTKEY EVENT
GOAL! 2-1 UNITED!
GOAL! 2-1 UNITED!
Garnacho converts from the spot.
United are ahead again.
75′ – MUN 1-1 NOTKEY EVENT
PENALTY TO UNITED!
PENALTY TO UNITED!
Garnacho is brought down.
However, that wasn’t a penalty, it was outside the box – poor decision.
73′ – MUN 1-1 NOTRichard Fay
Stretford End find their voice
United are enjoying their best spell of the second-half and the Stretford End are finding their voice again. Fifteen minutes left and it is even poised. A goal would win this for either side, if not, we’ve got extra time and maybe penalties.
70′ – MUN 1-1 NOTSteven Railston
20 minutes to go here
Forest have a player down for cramp.
66′ – MUN 1-1 NOTRichard Fay
McNeill wasn’t happy at coming off
Charlie McNeill has a chat with Travis Binnion as he is replaced by Joe Hugill. He didn’t look happy about it, but he has hardly been in the game at all tonight.
64′ – MUN 1-1 NOTSteven Railston
United make a double change
McNeill and Hansen off.
Hugill and Oyedele on.
61′ – MUN 1-1 NOTSamuel Luckhurst
United have faded after their bright start
United have been quite aimless for most of this and they are preparing a change or changes down below us. They made a purposeful start to this half but Forest came through it with a minimum of fuss and Gore and Mainoo have not had enough time on the ball to control the game.
57′ – MUN 1-1 NOTSteven Railston
This game could go to penalties
There has to be a winner tonight.
There could be extra time and penalties if the score stays the same.
53′ – MUN 1-1 NOTSteven Railston
CHANCE!
Chance for Forest but Bennett blocks.
50′ – MUN 1-1 NOTRichard Fay
This has been a bright spell
A really good spell for United in the last couple of minutes. They have so many talented young players that there is always the chance of a goal from nothing.
49′ – MUN 1-1 NOTSteven Railston
This is better from United
This is better from United, who have started the second half well.
McNeill has just gestured to the crowd for more noise.
48′ – MUN 1-1 NOTRichard Fay
Vitek has continued
That was a worrying knock for ‘keeper Vitek but he’s okay to continue. Sub shot-stopper Wooster was getting ready to come on just in case.
46′ – MUN 1-1 NOTSteven Railston
Brave start from Vitek
After making the mistake for the goal, Vitek has taken a knee to the face with a brave save.
45′ – MUN 1-1 NOTSteven Railston
We’re back under way
Here we go.
HT – MUN 1-1 NOTRichard Fay
half-time ratings
And here are your half-time ratings…
Radek Viteck
Good performance overshadowed by an error for the Forest goal. 4
Mark Jury
Supplemented the attacks well. 5
Rhys Bennett
A real captain’s performance. A big goal in a big game. 8
louis jackson
Deal with the Forest threat well. 6
Sam Murray
Great delivery for the opening goal. 7
Kobbie Mainoo
Dazzled the Forest defense and won back possession a few times. 8
Dan Gore
Super recovery tackle. 7
Isaac Hansen
Drew a few fouls with clever runs including the free-kick for the opening goal. 6
Alexander Garnacho
Energetic but with little end product. Went close a few times before the break. 7
Sam Mather
Lively whenever he got on the ball. 6
Charlie McNeil
Gradually grown into the game. 6
.