Man Utd starlets shine in attack with stunning goals as Carrick watches on in cup

Michael Carrick watched on as Manchester United U18 starlets shone in attack as they won 3-2 in the FA Youth Cup.

There was plenty of support from old and new United players as the youngsters beat Sunderland and booked a place in the semi-finals of the competition.

Senne Lammens and Wayne Rooney were among those watching on as Darren Fletcher‘s side are just two games away from extending the club’s record tally of Youth Cup triumphs to 12.

Noah Ajayi’s stunner from outside the box sent United ahead at Old Trafford, but the home side struggled to cope with Sunderland’s high press after half-time.

The visitors quickly equalised through Tom Proctor’s close range smack off the crossbar, and were soon in front through Felix Scott’s slick low finish.

Chido Obi broke clear and delicately poked the ball past Joseph Cowan to level the scores by the 70th minute.

United were back in business when Nathaniel Junior Brown grabbed the winner from an acute angle inside the box, after being teed up by JJ Gabriel.

Along with Carrick, O'Shea also watched on as did Rooney with his son Kai an used substitute.

Lammens arrived with United’s third choice keeper Tom Heaton and the duo sat alongside Darren Gibson, with director of football Jason Wilcox a few rows ahead.

Gabriel was the player on everybody’s lips before kick-off, but it was Ajayi who dictated United’s forward play, with the 17-year-old winger also putting in a huge defensive shift.

Ajayi has three goals in four matches and continued his red hot form for the Under-18s.

Gabriel, who has 20 goals in 22 games this season, was man-marked by Black Cat midfielders Liam Hunt and Charles Dinsdale for the majority of the contest.

Obi, who returned from his concussion injury sustained in the U21s defeat against Chelsea, sent United’s first real chance just wide after Gabriel put him through.

Obi’s out of possession work has improved over the course of the campaign under the guidance of Fletcher.

United host Crystal Palace in the next round of the prestigious cup competition on April 11. The U18s also play Palace in the final of the Premier League cup next month.

Kai and Gabriel are bidding to replicate Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho’s 2022 Youth Cup glory.