As if three injury time winners at first-team level this season weren’t enough, United’s U18s followed in the footsteps of their senior counterparts by breaking Manchester City hearts with yet another last gasp strike to take all three points at Platt Lane.
Things had looked bleak for the Reds in this rearranged fixture after some atrocious first-half defending handed the hosts a 2-0 lead at the break, but Paul McGuinness’ side have already shown this season that all is not lost in such a situation and duly mounted a stirring comeback. Paul Pogba’s majestic goal on the hour mark gave United hope and belief and a brace from Joshua King, the latter coming just after the game had moved into injury time, gave the young Reds a sensational victory. As if completing a rare double over City at this level wasn’t reward enough, the three points were also enough to move the Reds within touching distance of the Academy League Group C title.
UNITED
1. Conor Devlin
2. Reece Brown
3. Sean McGinty (15. John Cofie 73)
4. Tom Thorpe
5. Scott Wootton (c)
6. Ryan Tunnicliffe
7. Nicky Ajose
8. Paul Pogba
9. Joshua King
10. Will Keane
11. Ravel Morrison
Subs not used
12. Jesse Lingard
13. Sam Johnstone
14. Larnell Cole
16. Michele Fornasier
Booked: McGinty, King
Goal scorers: Pogba 60, King 75 & 90
Ref: Mr Lawrence
City: Wood, Smith, Mitchell, Veseli (Grandison 79), Wabara, Kapsalopodas, Elabdellaoui, Benali (c), Hippias, Bunn (Siaw 64), Chantler.
Not used: Dean, Morrissey, Skogsrud.
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