Plucky Peterborough United knocked out of FA Youth Cup by Manchester United wonderkid at Old Trafford
It took a cool finish from Manchester United’s latest wonderkid to knock plucky Peterborough United out of the FA Youth Cup at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
At just 15 years of age midfielder JJ Gabriel became the youngest United player to turn out for the club’s Under 18s at Old Trafford, no mean feat given he was preceded by the likes of David Beckham and Paul Scholes from the fabled class of 92, and by the likes of Duncan Edwards, a boy genius whose career and life was cut short by the Munich air disaster.
Gabriel has trained regularly with the United first team and he made his mark against Posh in the 23rd minute of last night’s third round tie with a crisp finish from the edge of the penalty area. It turned out to be the only goal of the game which is testament to how well Posh performed on such a big stage against the club who have won the competition more times than anyone else.
Posh had to defend with plenty of spirit before the break, but they matched the Premier League Academy team in the second-half and caused one or two nervous moments for Darren Fletcher’s side.
Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony watched the game alongside the first team success at Reading. In trademark style he reckoned four of last night’s team will soon be first-team regulars.
MacAnthony said: “Proud of the group and the staff from our amazing Academy. This group is full of talent and four of them will 100% be first team players in the not-too-distant future. I hope all the families of players who travelled felt immense pride in that performance. We were unreal in the second half.”
United boss Fletcher was seen addressing the Posh players on the Old Trafford pitch after the game.
Luca Christoudias shot just over following a free kick early in the second-half just before the impressive Patryk Sykut forced a decent save from the United goalkeeper. Eddie Fox could only steer the rebound into the ‘keeper’s hands.
In the first-half captain and centre-back Lucca Mendonca made two brilliant defensive interventions. Goalkeeper Ben Westcott also made a couple of fine saves.
Posh: Westcott, Bushell (sub Ndonjang, 80 mins), Joseph, Christoudias (sub Crozier, 72 mins), Mendonca, Arber, McWilliams-Marcano, Fox (sub Aikins, 90 + 2 mins), Shofowoke, Sykut, Mlityalwa. Unused subs Norville, Simmons, Sammour, Sudakaran.