Under-18s: Manchester United 2 Sunderland 1
Manchester United's Under-18s had to dig in for victory on Saturday, eventually claiming all three points thanks to second-half strikes from Aidan Barlow and Mason Greenwood.
The visitors from Sunderland took a surprise 1-0 lead into the break after netting midway through the first period. However, Kieran McKenna's side recovered after the interval to secure a third successive triumph on the back of the recent 6-1 and 6-2 drubbings at home to Wolves and then Middlesbrough respectively.
Benjamin Kimpioka opened the scoring for the Black Cats in the 25th minute after a string of passes carried the possession to his feet just inside the United area. The striker then dissected Reds defenders Max Dunne and Jake Barrett with a neat ball of his own to Bali Mumba, before profiting from the one-two to slot home past Alex Fojticek.
Mounting pressure from the Reds after the interval eventually paid dividends with an equaliser in the 64th minute. United substitute James Garner showed great tenacity to win the ball back for his side in open play following a corner and when Nishan Burkart's low cross took a deflection, the prolific Barlow showed quick reactions to level the score at 1-1 by nodding in at the far post.
Barlow created the winning goal just eight minutes later when, after good work on the left flank by Reds full-back Ethan Laird, the United no.11 whipped a cross into the box and Greenwood did enough to beat the Black Cats keeper and make the final score 2-1.
The result meant the Reds achieved simultaneous Saturday wins - the Academy side were playing at the same time as the first team were beating Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at Old Trafford.
United: Fojticek; Laird (Mengi 83), Dunne, Barrett, B. Williams; O'Connor (Garner 33), McGhee (Mellor 46), Levitt, Barlow; Greenwood; Burkart. Substitutes not used: Thompson, Baars.