Kai Rooney headed home for his fifth goal in two games but was later sent off in a 4-1 win for Manchester United Under 18s over Blackburn.
The young striker, who scored four goals in United’s 6-0 victory over Burnley in midweek, was again on target as Darren Fletcher’s side made it three consecutive wins in the U18 Premier League.
Rooney equalised after Charlie Fletcher had given Blackburn an early lead, but his afternoon ended in disappointment for him when he was sent off for a second yellow card after the hour mark.
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United refused to let the dismissal derail them, however, with substitutes Jaume Camacho Sidos and Noah Ajayi inspiring a remarkable response.
Camacho Sidos scored twice and Ajayi produced a stunning strike to complete a convincing victory, extending United’s recent goalscoring run to 14 goals across their last three league matches.
Blackburn took a surprise lead after a turnover in United’s defensive third allowed Charlie Fletcher to break into the box and finish beyond goalkeeper Charlie Hardy.
United responded positively, with Junior Brown and David Eze both testing Teddy Garside before Rooney brought the visitors level in the 34th minute.
Brown did the damage down the right, beating his marker before delivering from the byline. Rooney arrived at the near post and guided his header into the net via a slight deflection.
United continued to dominate after the break, with Camacho Sidos introduced from the bench and quickly making an impact. But just as the visitors looked set to take control, Rooney was shown a second yellow card following an aerial challenge in the centre-circle.
The setback barely slowed United down. Just six minutes later, Brown picked out Camacho Sidos inside the area and the substitute controlled before finishing beyond Garside to put the Reds ahead.
Ajayi then took centre stage. After going close with two efforts, the forward produced the standout moment of the afternoon, cutting inside from the left, skipping past several Blackburn defenders and firing an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Camacho Sidos completed the scoring in the closing stages, running on to Jariyah Shah’s pass before delicately lifting the ball over Garside to claim his second goal.
Ajayi almost added a fifth in stoppage time, but Garside produced a good save to deny him.
The result gives Fletcher’s side a third successive league victory and continues a strong spell for an attack led by Rooney, who has now scored five goals across the wins over Burnley and Blackburn.
United return to Carrington next weekend for their final U18 Premier League Cup group match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
BLACKBURN
Line-up: Garside; Pitt, Wardak, Leech, Low; Walls, Fletcher; Clanford, Mowbray (Cepas 75), Whiffing (Chimpango 75); Mbonzale
Goal: Fletcher 17
UNITED
Line-up: Hardy; Shah, McCormack (c), (Ngwashi 89) Laurie, O’Brien; McEvoy (Carrick 89), Eze (Ziro 89); Brown, Cassim (Camacho Sidos 46), De Jonge-Seiros (Ajayi 65); Rooney.
Goals: Rooney 34, Camacho Sidos 67, 87, Ajayi 74
