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Manchester United u18s hosted Leeds United at Carrington on Saturday morning in their final group stage match of the Premier League Cup.
The stormy conditions saw the match delayed by 30 minutes but the action eventually got underway amidst the heavy rain.
With only the top spot from the group guaranteed to advance, United needed a win with at least a three goal margin to secure their ticket into the next round.
Adam Lawrence’s side were straight on the task as they opened the scoring in just the second minute. Winning the ball in midfield, Amir Ibragimov put through Jaydan Kamason on the right wing, who ran into the box with Chido Obi waiting for the pull back. But the United right-back went alone, finishing clinically into the far corner.
It was a great day for Kamason who caused Leeds trouble throughout the match and forced Coban Bird into the book just six minutes in as he looked to run past his marker again but was taken down after two swipes.
Harry Amass saw his first involvement with the u18s on the season and was called into action when Leeds delivered a dangerous cross to the back post but Amass was alive to the situation to clear.
Just after the half hour mark, Kamason slipped through two Leeds defenders with an excellent turn on the ball to break to the byline and cutback to James Scanlon, who somehow had his effort cleared off the line at the back post.
Into the 40th minute, an almost carbon copy situation saw Ibragimov racing to the right byline this time to cutback to Scanlon at the back post. He made no mistake this time to make it 2-0.
Less than four minutes later, Obi provided the third goal United needed to leapfrog Leeds in the group standings. Kamason crossed deep to Ibragimov who rose to knock down for Obi to volley in from six yards out.
With the job done in the first half, it was now up to the young reds to keep a clean sheet in the second half to ensure they remained on top of the group.
Just after the hour mark, United were caught upfield allowing Leeds to launch a counter attack, but Ibragimov sensed the danger. He had already tracked back to the right back position to put in an important tackle and end the attack. An impressive effort from the number 10, who had already assisted all three goals on the day, but knows the defensive actions are just as important.
The performance matched the messy weather conditions in the second half but United ultimately held on to the three goal lead to secure the victory and top the group. United now move onto the quarter-finals where they continue their title defence, having lifted the cup last season.
United: Byrne-Hughes, Kamason, Munro, Armer (Lusale 73), Amass, Devaney, Baumann (Thwaites 63), Mantato, Ibragimov, Scanlon, Obi (Biancheri 73)
Unused subs: Murdock, Mills
