U18s: Aston Villa 1 United 1 (3-1 on pens)

Adam Lawrence’s young Reds had done the club proud in a highly entertaining set of games, including five-goal wins over Coventry City, Preston North End and Chelsea before an extra-time triumph at Arsenal.

However, having initially come from behind at Villa Park, our boys were beaten on penalties following another tight game which required an additional 30 minutes to determine the winner.

Villa will now play the winner of Watford v Manchester City in the final. Congratulations to Villa and commiserations to our young players, who we have no doubt will come out of this experience stronger as they continue their development. The U18s are back in action on Saturday against Leeds at Carrington. The match is live on MUTV.

Neither side had settled when the hosts were more alive to a loose ball to take a fourth-minute lead. Villa captain Aidan Borland’s right-footed free-kick took a fortunate deflection, but it still required quick thinking and reactions, and Trai-Varn Mulley showed both of those to pounce and poke home first time past Will Murdock.

United showed mental resilience to calm the game and immediately gain some control. Jack Fletcher’s half-volley attempt was blocked and Chido Obi struck well wide from long range before converting successfully, but a second after the whistle had blown for a foul.

As the pressure built, a clever dinked ball from United captain Jacob Devaney gave Tyler Fletcher room in which to cause trouble. He used his body well to do that, eventually getting a foot on the ball as Villa’s Sam Proctor came rushing out. Obi was about to turn and shoot when Scanlon came charging in to push it home into a gaping net and level for the Reds.

Villa soon had a chance to restore their lead when Devaney’s loose pass allowed them to surge into the United area. Murdock brought down his man as he tried to smother the danger, but then watched Borland strike the spot-kick well wide to keep the scores level.

Murdock came up big early in the second half to deny Mason Cotcher from close range before Proctor did the same when Obi’s snapshot came at him minutes later. Murdock again proved his shot-stopping class with another close-range denial, this time of Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, cutting in from the left side of the box.

United made three substitutions, seeking more in the final third, and the first, Zach Baumann, nearly provided it with a whipping shot destined for the top left corner until a deflection. The Ukrainian youth international found space for another effort soon after which drew a fantastic save from Proctor. Obi’s header struck the right post from the subsequent corner.

Villa showed their threat primarily on the counter, with United forced into some uncertain last-ditch defending but ultimately keeping Murdock’s goal safe.

While United dominated the majority of the second half, it was Villa who controlled the first half of extra-time. Previously showing tiredness, they managed to retain possession well and then carve out chances, with Max Jenner shooting over before Murdock saved twice with relative comfort.

At the other end, United began to build momentum before the brief pause, but Jim Thwaites’ free-kick cross was well cleared. Shortly after the restart, another free-kick — this time shot direct — went wide of the right post.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Murdock; Kamason, Munro, Armer, Kukonki (Lusale 90); Devaney (c) (Baumann 56), T. Fletcher (Ibragimov 103), J. Fletcher (Thwaites 72); Scanlon, Obi, Biancheri (Mantato 61).

Unused subs: Byrne-Hughes; Musa.

Goals: Scanlon 23 | Mulley 4.