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Manchester United U18s travelled to Leeds on Saturday morning as they looked to continue their 100% record in the league.
Off the back of a convincing 6-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, Adam Lawrence’s side looked strong from the off again.
Within the opening minute, Bendito Mantato had twisted his marker inside and out before winning a corner which saw James Scanlon have a chance cleared off the goal line.
It didn’t take long for Scanlon to find the net though, another corner delivered in from Mantato was punched into the sky by the Leeds keeper, only for Scanlon to run onto and volley into the back of the net from less than 10 yards out.
It was really all one-way traffic on the day and Scanlon turned provider on the half hour mark, crossing low across the face of the goal for Mantato to slide in at the back post.
Mantato was then taken down which earned United a penalty that was duly dispatched by Victor Musa for his second of the season.
Amir Ibragimov got in on the action late in the half when he fired an attempt towards the left corner that was tipped wide for a corner.
Jim Thwaites delivered from the corner perfectly to find the head of the wide open Ibragimov to head home from the centre of the goal.
The second half continued in similar fashion, with Scanlon scoring his second just two minutes after the restart. Leeds looked to play through United’s press but Musa used his strength to bundle the defender off the ball before laying off to Scanlon on the left side of the box to cut in and smash into the far corner.
Chido Obi-Martin was introduced on the hour mark and was almost immediately played through by Scanlon to roll the ball past the keeper but Ibragimov came through at the back post to seal off the finish, a move that left Obi-Martin unamused and fuming at his teammate.
Six minutes later, Ibragimov scored his third with another assist from a summer signing off the bench. Samuel Lusale’s cross was fumbled by the Leeds keeper and it hit the foot of Ibragimov at the back post who duly bundled it in.
Not one to be upstaged, Scanlon netted his own hat-trick less than a minute later. Obi-Martin’s shot on target was parried back out to Scanlon for an easy finish to make it 0-8.
The victory extends United’s lead at the top of the table to five points with a goal difference of 36 after just 8 matches.
United: Byrne-Hughes, Munro (Plunkett 77), Mills, Armer, Kukonki, T. Fletcher, Thwaites (Bailey 62), Mantato (Lusale 62), Ibragimov, Scanlon, Musa (Obi-Martin 62)
Unused subs: Murdock
