Obi double as Man Utd U21s win derby to set up play-off final place

Chido Obi hit a double as Manchester United U21s beat local rivals Manchester City to progress to the Premier League 2 play-off final.

Floyd Samba opened the scoring early on in the semi-final, before Chido Obi turned the match on its head with two headed goals in the space of five minutes and Shea Lacey’s penalty increased the advantage before the break.

In a second half at Joie Stadium, Jack Moorhouse netted within a minute of the restart, before City responded through Mahamadou Sangare and Samba.

But Adam Lawrence’s side came out on top and will travel to Brighton & Hove Albion - after their 3-1 victory away at Tottenham Hotspur - in the competition’s final, which will be played sometime between Friday 15 and Monday 18 May.

United made two changes to the line-up that started the 2-0 quarter-final win over Crystal Palace, as Diego Leon replaced Godwill Kukonki at left-back and Moorhouse came into midfield in place of Tyler Fletcher.

Out of nothing, City took the lead inside the third minute through Samba, who ran onto Reigan Heskey’s slide-rule pass and found the net from a tight angle.

As City continued to threaten, Sangare somehow missed from inside the six-yard box from Samba’s low cross, Murdock did well to tip over Heskey’s right-footed curler, and Sverre Nypan fired wide after racing through the middle.

But United made City pay for their wastefulness just before the half-hour mark, as Jaydan Kamason’s cross was nodded back across the face of goal by Victor Musa and Obi met it with a firm header to level matters.

Reds turned the game on its head with another fine header from Obi, who rose highest to meet a floated cross from the right by Lacey.

It got even better for United just before the break when Musa was felled in the box by Nfonkeu, and Lacey sent Brits the wrong way from the penalty spot.

It was a dream start to the second half for United as, less than a minute after the restart, Moorhouse burst through the middle and got the better of Harrison Parker before keeping his composure to slide the ball home.

But in another twist in keeping with the breathless nature of the game, City roared back straight away as, less than two minutes later, Sangare found the net with a downward header from Heskey’s cross.

Both sides continued to attack with purpose as Jim Thwaites took on a shot which deflected inches wide of the post and Lacey brought a routine save from Brits after checking in onto his left foot.

At the opposite end, Ryan McAidoo rifled off target from McFarlane’s delivery and Kamason made a superb intervention to prevent Heskey from getting a shot away in a dangerous position.

United were a constant threat throughout as Brits made a crucial save on the line from Musa’s attempt from an acute angle, before making two smart stops to keep out left-footed efforts from Lacey.

The hosts set up a nervy finale as Samba cushioned a volley from Heskey’s centre into the bottom corner to halve the deficit to 4-3.

McAidoo’s fierce drive was parried behind by Murdock and Heskey bent a shot off target as United stayed firm to withstand sustained pressure and deservedly book a place in the final.

Manchester City: Brits, Nfonkeu (Henderson-Hall 50), Parker (Warhurst 90+4), Noble (c), McFarlane (Braithwaite 77), McAidoo, Samba, Nypan, Heskey, Sangare, Gray.

Goals: Samba 3, 82, Sangare 48

United: Murdock; Kamason, Aljofree (c), Armer, Leon; Thwaites (McCormack 90+3), J.Fletcher, Moorhouse, Lacey; Obi (Scanlon 80), Musa (Biancheri 90).

Goals: Obi 29, 34, Lacey 43 pen, Moorhouse 46