Gabriel and Obi quality shine as Man Utd U18s beat Palace for place in Cup final

Chido Obi slotted home deep into extra-time as Manchester United U18s beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in the FA Youth Cup to set up a final against Manchester City.

JJ Gabriel opened the scoring after 77 minutes at Old Trafford, before the Eagles quickly responded when Raihaan Anderson levelled two minutes later.

The match became increasingly open as the game wore on and it was Obi who turned in the box to get the winner.

Yuel Helafu was allowed the game's first real chance, as the defender soared into space before forcing a strong save from Palace goalkeeper Lucca Benetton.

The Eagles then responded when Dean Benamer took aim from the edge of box, with his rasping effort sailing just wide of the post.

Rafe McCormack was proving pivotal in the centre of the park, as he picked the pocket of Chuks Okoli soon after, also seeing his drive saved.

Noah Ajayi got the better of his man before shooting inches wide of the mark, before the best chance of the first 45 fell the way of Obi.

Goodwill Kukonki dug out a brilliant cross that was headed wide by Obi, with the goal almost gaping for the former Arsenal man to tap home into.

Sam Lusale's introduction brought a fresh impetus for Fletcher's side after the break. He squared for Obi moments after his introduction, with Ajayi also unable to reach his low cross into the Palace box.

Gabriel then teed up Lusale for a header of his own, which left Benetton in the Palace net scrambling to save.

But the deadline was broken with 13 minutes to play, as Gabriel raced through onto Obi's pass, before dinking the ball into the net to hand us the lead.

Javier Alonso's men instantly responded at the other end to force extra-time, as Cameron Byrne-Hughes' error was seized upon by Anderson, who thrashed home the equaliser.

The first half of extra-time brought several chances before Obi's moment arrived.

A brilliant pass from substitute James Overy saw Obi race through on goal, as he kept his cool to round Benetton and net the winner at the Stretford End.

Lusale too could have added another with moments to go, but Fletcher's men saw it out to book a spot in the final of this season's FA Youth Cup.