U18s: Hat-trick helps Reds to beat Newcastle
Manchester United's Under-18s ran out comfortable winners on Tyneside on Saturday afternoon, beating Newcastle United 5-0.
A hat-trick from Joe Hugill plus goals from Sam Mather and Sam Murray ensured the Reds returned home with three points in the Under-18 Premier League.
The breakthrough came relatively early for Travis Binnion’s side, as Hugill opened the scoring on five minutes. Alejandro Garnacho's terrific back heel inside the Newcastle penalty area gave Hugill the opportunity to make it a perfect start to the proceedings.
Garnacho's fellow Spaniard, Marc Jurado, was forced off after only 20 minutes when a robust challenge cut his afternoon short, with Maximilano Oyedele coming on to replace him.
The home side were inches away from a leveller in the 25th minute when Kyle Crossley's wonderful right-foot delivery was met sublimely by Ben Parkinson and the midfielder’s left-foot volley cannoned back off the post.
Hugill then added his and United’s second goal just moments before the half-time whistle arrived, as the Reds forward reacted quickly to a dangerous low cross from Murray and directed the ball into the net past Thompson.
The Reds extended the advantage when Murray again delivered the ball into the box and Mather made no mistake as he curled his effort into the Magpies' net for 3-0.
Newcastle’s best chance of the half came after some good pressing high up the pitch by Jay Turner-Cooke, with the winger spreading the ball out to Michael Ndiweni, whose low shot was kept out by the strong right hand of Reds keeper Radek Vitek.
Binnion's boys made it 4-0 on 67 minutes as Mather danced into the penalty area, before cheekily knocking the ball through Ciaran Thompson’s legs. He then unselfishly found Hugill who smashed the ball into the roof of the net for his hat-trick.
The scoring was then completed just one minute before the end of normal time as Murray’s left-footed corner from the right, possibly assisted by the wind, found its way past the Newcastle keeper at his near post.
U18s highlights: Newcastle 0 United 5
See how our Reds triumphed 5-0 on Tyneside, with the help of a Joe Hugill hat-trick...
Next up, Binnion’s side will face Middlesborough at home in a lunchtime league game on Thursday, before hosting Wolves in the Under-18 Premier League Cup on 16 October.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Vitek; Murray, Fredricson, Kambwala, Jurado (Oyedele 20); Gore, Mainoo; Hansen-Aaroen (Ogunneye 56), Mather, Garnacho (Norkett 56); Hugill.
Subs not used: Aljofree, Hanbury.
Scorers: Hugill 5, 45, 67, Mather 46, Murray 89.