Ibragimov fires 30-yard stunner and Rooney on target as Man Utd smash Middlesbrough 5-0

Manchester United’s Under-18s made it two wins from two in the U18 Premier League with a resounding 5-0 win over Middlesbrough at Carrington.

In their first home outing of the new season, Darren Fletcher’s side started brightly and could have gone ahead within two minutes.

Gabriel was slipped in by Bendito Mantato, but his effort went narrowly wide. Soon after, Sam Lusale struck the post as the young Reds piled on the pressure.

The breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute when Mantato drove forward with purpose, beating Tyler Smith before calmly wrong-footing Joseph Richardson to make it 1-0.

United doubled their lead just before the interval. James Bailey threaded a superb pass through midfield to Lusale, whose effort was blocked, but Gabriel reacted quickest to turn home from close range for 2-0.

Moments later, Jim Thwaites headed over from a corner, while Boro’s only chance of the half saw Oliver Martin head straight at Cameron Byrne-Hughes.

After the break, United’s dominance continued. Five minutes into the second half, Gabriel forced Richardson into another smart stop.

But just after the hour mark, captain Amir Ibragimov produced the game’s standout moment, rifling a 30-yard strike into the top corner after being teed up by Lusale.

It was soon four, with Gabriel grabbing his second. A raking cross-field ball from Thwaites released Mantato, who cut inside before finding Gabriel. The forward twisted into space before finishing powerfully past the keeper.

Fletcher made a series of substitutions, but the goals kept coming. Substitute Rooney made it five shortly after coming on, converting Mantato’s driven cross with the aid of a deflection.

Fellow substitute Junior Brown nearly added a sixth, curling narrowly wide late on, but by then the points were long secured.

United’s fluid attacking display, combined with resolute defending, ensured a comfortable afternoon and a perfect start to the campaign.