Manchester United Under-18s progressed in the Premier League Cup with a 4-3 away win over West Brom on Tuesday afternoon.
Darren Fletcher’s side stormed into a four-goal lead inside the first 45 minutes, thanks to braces from Louie Bradbury and Jay McEvoy.
After the break, the home side threw everything at United, with Charlie Blackshields scoring and Rio Parmer netting a double but the Reds held on to win and move into the semi-finals.
Gabriel and West Brom’s Harry French were both sent off for straight red cards.
United started the better of the two teams and nearly opened the scoring when Godwill Kukonki met Bendito Mantato’s cross, but his strike outside the area went just over. Fletcher’s team did take the lead inside the first 15 minutes, when Gabriel’s smart free-kick was perfect for Bradbury to tuck home, after the striker showed great desire to win a foul out of nothing.
After United continued to dominate possession, West Brom finally started to be a threat, with Parmer blazing over and French testing goalkeeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes.
However, we grabbed a deserved second on the counter, after superb play from Gabriel and Mantato resulted in McEvoy firing past Maxwell Moses inside the box. Gabriel picked out Mantato from inside his own half and the winger ventured into the Albion area, before Nathaniel-Junior Brown laid it off for the midfielder to score.
The goals continued to come, just moments later, with Bradbury extending his fine goalscoring form, following more great wing-play from Mantato. After beating Adam Letlat for pace, Mantato picked out Gabriel, who showed great feet to allow Bradbury to double his tally with a cool finish.
McEvoy joined Bradbury in scoring a brace just before the break when he rounded off more threatening United play down the right. After Mantato and Yuel Helafu linked up well, McEvoy was left unmarked inside the box and his strike was too hard for Moses to keep out.
SECOND HALF - UNITED HOLD OUT
West Brom came out with a point to prove after the break and opened their account through their captain Blackshields’s strike from long range.
Moments later, United were down to 10 men when Gabriel was shown a straight red card for a foul on French. The one-man advantage changed the flow of the game and the hosts saw more of the ball in an attempt to trim the deficit.
Daudi Amihere delivered two crosses that flashed across goal from the right, but there was no-one in navy and white to divert the ball into the net.
Yet the home side added a second, later on, when Umarr Sankoh’s teasing cross from the right was converted at the back post by Parmar after rounding Byrne-Hughes.
The Baggies' French was then dismissed, for dissent in the 88th minute, losing their one-man advantage.
As the game entered its final seconds, deep into stoppage time, Albion were awarded a penalty for a foul on the byline. Parmar tucked the spot-kick away before the full-time whistle quickly followed to ensure a big win in the cup for United.
There was also the welcome sight of Jim Thwaites making a return to action, off the bench.
Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and either Peterborough United or Crystal Palace will make up the final four in the competition.
United: Byrne-Hughes, Helafu Mills, Armer (c), Kukonki, McCormack, McEvoy (Thwaites 63), Mantato (Watson 86), Gabriel, Brown (Plunkett 74), Bradbury (Ajayi 74).
Sub not used: Heath.
Scorers: Bradbury 15,38, McEvoy 32,45.
Booked: Helafu 43, Bradbury 61, Plunkett 81.
Sent off: Gabriel 54.
West Brom: Moses, Abudu, Letlat, Blackshields, Perkins, Asomugha, Amihere, Gompe (Sankoh 68), Francis-Caesar, Parmar, French.
Subs not used: Round, Lines, Bastafield, Okorodudu.
Scorers: Blackshields 52, Parmar 80,90+8 (pen).
Booked: Gompe 37.
Sent off: French 88.