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Manchester City lifted the FA Youth Cup for the third time in seven seasons as Reigan Heskey, the son of ex-England striker Emile, smashed an 87th-minute winner to down Manchester United.
Pep Guardiola, Michael Carrick, Bruno Fernandes, Antoine Semenyo and a who’s who of executives from both clubs watched on at City’s academy stadium.
The City first-team manager raised a glass of red wine to celebrate the youngsters’ triumph before he takes his squad to London for Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea.
City’s youth boss Oliver Reiss avenged defeat in last season’s final by Aston Villa and saw the son of another Premier League cult hero, ex-Blackburn defender Chris Samba, open the scoring.
Floyd Samba unleashed an unstoppable 20-yard free kick bending into the top left-hand corner five minutes before the break, a dead ball that had been won by his older brother, Tyrone.
United quickly rallied and equalised through Godwill Kukonki two minutes after Samba’s stunning strike but it was left to Heskey to shimmy inside off the left to hammer home late on.
Reigan Heskey scored the winning goal as Manchester City beat Man United in the FA Youth Cup final
Pep Guardiola raised a toast to the next generation of Manchester City stars
Floyd Samba had given Man City the lead before Godwill Kukonki back Man United back level
Attacking starlets stifled
Other than arguments over the venue, the build-up to this academy showpiece was dominated by the goalscoring prowess of the two headline names: Teddie Lamb of City and United’s JJ Gabriel.
Both were vying for the Under-18 league golden boot, won by Lamb, but are very different attackers. Lamb is a traditional No 9, physical from the front – and despite his age, whipping up the home crowd – whereas Gabriel plays off the main striker.
United goalkeeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes superbly thwarted Lamb in the first half, while Gabriel (not 16 until October) came deep to affect proceedings, breaking lines and giving the visitors a menacing dimension on the break.
The next Rodri and Casemiro?
Over the past few years, coaches at the FA have privately discussed the need to bring through more rounded defensive midfielders to challenge their counterparts from other elite nations. There is a need to produce players who can control the tempo of matches while reading games well enough to shield a back line.
Jim Thwaites (United) and Harrison Miles (City) have been called to first-team training in recent months, both clubs realising the importance of exposing them to quicker sessions that requires more awareness and scanning in that position.
‘I’ve got probably the best role model going, as in Rodri,’ Miles said. ‘So I’m always looking at him, thinking, what’s he doing? If I go here, what’s he going to do? I’m always taking bits off him.’
Miles – who City signed from Southampton – is a crisp passer of the ball, kickstarting one super move for a Lamb chance, while United hold high hopes that they can mould Thwaites into a formidable No 6.
Michael Carrick, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, and Luke Shaw were in attendance
Another ray of hope for City
The faith placed in younger players by the Manchester clubs is encouraging, with six players across both sides having been involved in a first-team squad before this.
One who hasn’t, 17-year-old Jake Wain, might be one of the lesser-known names among these squads but defended admirably at left back for the hosts.
