FAYC: United 3 Portsmouth 2

United's bid to lift the FA Youth Cup for the first time in eight years got off to a promising start on Monday night with a 3-2 win over Portsmouth.

Three goals ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous ensured the Reds' domination was duly rewarded with victory. Paul Pogba opened the scoring with a piledriver that's becoming typical of his portfolio, Portsmouth goalkeeper Tom Fry gifted United the second by punching Larnell Cole's corner into his own net, before Will Keane notched number three with an excellent striker's effort. Although Ryan Williams pulled two goals back for Pompey in the last seven minutes, the Reds were worthy winners.

With Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Charlton and David Gill in the Moss Lane crowd, the United youngsters had great incentive to impress and they duly set about their mission in the correct manner, knocking the ball around well despite the swirling wind and rain.

The lively likes of Larnell Cole on the right wing and John Cofie up front made a mockery of their lack of match practice, this being the academy boys' first game since 17 December. Cofie was aggrieved not to be awarded a first-half penalty when his surge into the box was halted by Dan Bennett's clumsy challenge; Cole went close to scoring when he forced Fry to parry at the near post. Both players were involved when Pogba eventually did put United 1-0 up, though the catalyst was Will Keane's run at the heart of the Portsmouth defence. As Keane's shot was blocked, Cole reacted quickly to seize possession on the fringes of the area and feed Cofie - it was from the latter's lay-off that Pogba bent a beautiful first-time shot beyond Fry into the top left-hand corner.