Arsenal 2-3 Manchester United: Red Devils into FA Youth Cup semi-finals after edging Emirates thriller

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·28 février 2025

Arsenal 2-3 Manchester United: Red Devils into FA Youth Cup semi-finals after edging Emirates thriller

Max Dowman efforts in vain as young Gunners are narrowly beaten in entertaining last-eight clash

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

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Manchester United’s Under-18s side beat Arsenal 3-2 in a thriller to seal their place in the semi-finals of the 2024/25 FA Youth Cup.

Bendito Mantato’s extra-time effort from close range put on a plate by fellow substitute Samuel Lusale settled a pulsating last-eight showdown held at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night, after Jaydan Kamason’s late rocket had forced an additional 30 minutes following a penalty won and scored by Max Dowman.

The fleet-footed midfield sensation - one of two 15-year-olds in the hosts’ starting lineup, along with defender Marli Salmon - was in dazzling form for Arsenal as he boosted his considerable hype even further and earned rave reviews for a superb display featuring a number of majestic passes and eye-catching runs that left opponents trailing in his wake or entering the referee’s notebook.

Record 11-time Youth Cup winners United, who last lifted the trophy in 2022, had led in the first half in front of a crowd of 7,500 through a cracking strike from Jack Fletcher, one of two twin sons of former Red Devils stalwart Darren in Adam Lawrence’s starting lineup, along with Tyler.

However, Louie Copley lifted home a brilliant equaliser shortly before the interval after a defence-splitting pass from Will Sweet, the Arsenal captain who was deservedly shown a straight red card in the closing stages of extra time for a wild frustrated lunge on Kamason.

The Gunners saw two massive penalty appeals waved away in extra time after Dowman had spurned a glorious chance to wrap up a dramatic victory in nine minutes of stoppage time, with United substitute Godwill Kukonki surviving strong handball claims following a shot by Dan Casey before also getting away with a risky challenge on Ceadach O'Neill inside the box.

United achieved an entertaining victory despite missing teenage striking sensation Chido Obi, who scored a hat-trick in the last round against Chelsea but missed out on a swift reunion with the club he left only last year due to his ongoing involvement with Ruben Amorim’s senior side ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round meeting with Premier League rivals Fulham at Old Trafford.

Next up for the triumphant U18s is a semi-final meeting with either Aston Villa or Plymouth, who go head to head at Villa Park on Saturday evening. The winner of that match will face either Manchester City or Watford in the final on May 3, while Arsenal’s wait for a 10th triumph in this competition and first since 2009 goes on after they lost the final in 2023 to London rivals West Ham.