After triumphing 4-1 over Everton in the fifth round, the Reds will welcome Leicester on Thursday 24 February at Old Trafford for the Quarter-Final FA Youth Cup.
Travis Binnion’s young side have twice played at the Theatre of Dreams already this season, beating Scunthorpe United 4-2 in the third round before overcoming Everton at the famous stadium.
In between, United got a 3-1 away win over Reading.
United celebrates a 4 Everton 1 victory over Everton in FA Youth Cup
The Story So Far
United’s best performance to date was in the last round as they put Everton to the sword. Francis Okoronkwo’s powerful 12th-minute shot put Everton in front in the evening game, but the Reds were quick with their response.
Charlie McNeill dispatched from the spot after Alejandro Garnacho was brought down in the 13th minute, and, 15 minutes later, a wonderfully worked move, involving McNeill and Marc Jurado, was headed home by Kobbie Mainoo.
United’s dominance grew after the break and Sam Mather extended the side’s lead from close range. Moments before full-time, Garnacho scored a fantastic solo goal on the counter-attack, storming down the left wing before cutting inside to finish past Patrick Nash in the Toffees goal.
Garnacho’s acrobatic finish in front of the Stretford End was the highlight of round three, while further goals came from Mather, Maximillian Oyedele and McNeill.
Away in Berkshire, Mather and McNeill found the net again, as well as Mainoo, as the Reds stormed into a three-goal first-half lead. The Royals claimed a deserved consolation goal in the second half.
The Opposition
Leicester caused an upset by knocking out the current holders Aston Villa in the third round in early December, with Kian Pennant’s 59th minute goal deciding the tie before a late breakaway sealed it, finished by Christopher Popov.
The Foxes followed that up with a last-minute win at home to Crewe Alexandra in the fourth round, the goal from Jack Butterfill, before a thumping 5-1 victory over Bournemouth just over a fortnight ago.
The team compete in the U18 Premier League South, which means fixtures between the two clubs are rare at this level. The Foxes are yet to win the FA Youth Cup.
United now look forward to welcoming supporters to Old Trafford to support the side.
Competition History
United are the most successful club in FA Youth Cup history, winning the competition on 10 occasions (1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1964, 1992, 1995, 2003 and 2011) and reaching a further four finals (1982, 1986, 1993, 2007).
The club’s best performance in the last few years was a semi-final appearance in 2019/20.
Only players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August 2021 were eligible to take part in the FA Youth Cup competition.
When a match is drawn after 90 minutes, an extra 30 minutes shall be played (15 minutes each way), if the score is still level at the end of extra time, the winner shall be determined by a penalty shootout.
Source: StreetReporters.ng
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