We exited the FA Youth Cup at the quarter-final stage on Friday evening with a narrow 3 - 2 defeat to Manchester United after extra time.
It was honours even after a tight first half in which Louis Copley scored a lovely chip to equalise for Adam Birchall’s side after Jack Fletcher had put United in front.
Max Dowman won and scored a penalty ten minutes into the second half, but we were denied victory by a late goal from Jaydan Kamason.
We made the stronger start to extra time, but Bendito Mantato’s goal on the counter attack settled the tie for the Red Devils.
What happened
After an uneventful first 15 minutes, the game sprung into life when Ceadach O’Neill played Louis Copley in on goal, only for his effort to be blocked.
Jack Porter’s first save of the night came 25 minutes in, making an excellent diving stop to deny Harry Amass from long range.
The visitors should have been ahead just after the half-hour mark when both Jack Fletcher and Gabriele Biancheri had efforts at goal from close range, but neither were able to hit the target.
Jack Fletcher did hit the target three minutes later, bending a superb effort into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area to give the Red Devils the lead.
We wasted no time in striking back though. Will Sweet played a fantastic ball over the top of the United defence to Louis Copley, who chipped United goalkeeper William Murdock to equalise just six minutes after we’d gone behind.
The second half started in a similarly cagey way to the first, but a moment of Max Dowman magic soon changed that.
Our number 10 ran from one end of the pitch to the other before eventually being brought down by Reece Munro for a penalty.
Dowman made no mistake in converting the spot kick, giving Murdock no chance.
We defended well for most of the second half, but just five minutes from the end of the 90, Jaydan Kamason riffled an equaliser into the top corner from the corner of the box.
Right at the end of normal time, Dowman almost scored a late winner, but Murdock made a good save to take the game to extra time.
The visitors made the stronger start to extra time and got themselves in front nine minutes after the restart when Lusale’s inviting cross was turned home by substitute Bendito Mantato.
Dan Casey had the best of our chances as we looked to respond, but his effort was blocked by Godwill Kukonki.
We kept the pressure on until the 117th minute, but a late tackle from Will Sweet saw our defender shown a red card and Manchester United held out to win the tie.
What It Means
We exit the FA Youth Cup after a close encounter with Manchester United.
Adam Birchall’s side will now turn their attention back to the Under-18s Premier League South.
What’s Next
The big games keep rolling for our under-18s, as they make the short trip across North London for a derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, March 8.
Kick-off at Hotspur Way is scheduled for 11am (UK time).
Line-Ups
Arsenal XI: Porter, Clarke (Onyekachukwu, 90+2’), Ogunnaike (Tahou, 106’), Salmon, Sweet, Ibrahim, Copley (Oyetunde, 90+2’), Murisa (Casey, 81’), Harriman-Annous (Bailey-Joseph, 97’), Dowman, O’Neill
Subs (not used): Ranson, Marciniak
Manchester United XI: Murdock, Kamason, Munro, Armer (Kukonki, 91’), Amass, Devaney (Ibragimov, 53’), Scanlon, T. Fletcher (Thwaites, 81’), Musa (Mantato, 71’), J. Fletcher (Lusale, 90+2’), Biancheri
Subs (not used): Mills, Byrne-Hughes
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