Manchester City beat arch-rivals Manchester United 2-1 to win the FA Youth Cup for the second time in three seasons.
Reigan Heskey, son of former England star Emile, was the matchwinner, with his stunning 87th minute strike coming after Godwill Kukonki had cancelled out Floyd Samba’s opener for City.
In an exciting encounter with plenty of young talents on show, the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Michael Carrick and Pep Guardiola were among those in attendance at City’s academy stadium.
The victory also ensured the hosts bounced back after losing last season’s final to Aston Villa.
Daily Mail Sport’s NATHAN SALT was watching on and he has rated both sets of players below.
Manchester City beat arch-rivals Manchester United 2-1 to win the FA Youth Cup on Thursday
The likes of Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and Michael Carrick were in attendance
MAN CITY U18 (4-2-3-1)
Max Hudson – 6
Could do nothing about the United goal on the night and didn’t have tons to do, so good were the players in front of him. Didn’t look confident when crosses were fired in.
Dante Headley – 6
Booked for simulation – which was harsh as it looked a penalty. Struggled to contain Noah Ajayi in the early stages but once City took control this became a much more comfortable night for him. Little to report.
Leke Drake – 6
Made a costly slip moments before Godwill Kukonki equalised with a header but otherwise he had a quiet outing on a night where team-mates stepped up to fire this dominant City side to glory.
Kaden Braithwaite – 7
A leader that showed exactly why he has the captain’s armband. Made a crucial full stretch block to deny a near-certain goal from Chido Obi after a great United move in the first half. Made one mistake which got him booked but he already looks like a player who could test himself out on loan.
Jake Wain – 7.5
The fact that United at no point found joy was testament, in large part, to the discipline of Wain. In this system he doesn’t need to offer a lot going forward and so he’s allowed to be disciplined and keep things simple. Ticked all the boxes. Booked.
Harrison Miles – 8
Looks the real deal in the middle of the park with his poise and his range of passing. One of his most impressive attributes that he showed here was he always finds space and he’s never in a rush. Having already been up to first team training, with Pep Guardiola watching this, he did his prospects no harm at all.
Man City midfielder Harrison Miles looks the real deal after impressing on the night
Floyd Samba – 7.5
A player who grew up idolising Paul Pogba, Floyd Samba sure shows a similar level of dominance in midfield. Scored the opener with a sensational free-kick. Feels like a cheat code at this level.
Ryan McAidoo – 8
Often finds himself playing with City’s Under-21s and here was the exact reason why. McAidoo, who has already made his first team debut, has pace, power and finesse in his locker and he was a total menace as City took control. Best player on the pitch. MOTM.
Tyrone Samba – 6
Made a slow start as he tried to figure out the best way to exert his influence on the game. He’s at his best when he’s in a free role off a striker and here once he found his groove as United’s midfield got manhandled he became a real headache. Won the free-kick that his brother scored.
Reigan Heskey – 7.5
Often found himself doubled up which is a sign of respect given his talents and in the end that still wasn’t enough to stop him. His pace is frightening and his goal, fired into the top corner is a goal Jeremy Doku would have been proud of, and it is now written in to City history. Will get an EFL loan next season, no doubt.
Teddie Lamb – 5
Was denied early after connecting with a set piece then after the hour he turned Heskey’s cross over from close range. As the Under-18 Premier League Golden Boot winner, so much was expected. His flashpoint came when he was booked for goading the away fans after Heskey’s winner.
Manager: Oliver Reiss – 8
Won the Under-18 Premier League title and also backed it up with the FA Youth Cup. Has built a side that can dominate with the suffocating style they play. Pep Guardiola rightly applauded some passages of exquisite play here.
Subs
Finley Gorman (for T Samba, 69) – 6.5
Kylan Midwood (for McAidoo, 90) – 6
Xavier Parker (for Heskey, 90) – 6
Reigan Heskey looked very bright and Jeremy Doku would have been proud of his goal
Ryan McAidoo has pace, power and finesse in his locker and he was a total menace here
MAN UNITED (4-3-3)
Cameron Byrne-Hughes – 6
Made a super stop low to his right to keep out Lamb from close range 25 minutes in but as has been an issue all season, he continues to look uncertain with crosses into the box. Was fortunate to see a deflected McAidoo strike clip the bar.
Yuel Helafu – 5.5
Had one of the toughest assignments of the night trying to keep Reigan Heskey quiet and he had mixed success. Got little to no protection from the right winger in both halves and he wasn’t able to drift into midfield like normal.
Dan Armer – 6.5
United’s Under-18 scholar of the year did his level best to rally the troops when the tide had turned and he was no nonsense in his defending. Tried to be brave on the ball by playing riskier passes to break lines but it rarely seemed to pay off.
Albert Mills – 7
Took on the Teddie Lamb assignment and after the disappointment of getting the game-changing red card in the Premier League Cup final, he was a rock here. Colossal effort.
Godwill Kukonki – 6.5
With England staff in attendance, United’s left back was one of the star attractions. His ceiling is incredibly high and his bullet header to equalise before half-time showed his aerial prowess. But he got turned inside and out when Ryan McAidoo took the game over.
Godwill Kukonki scored a bullet header but he struggled when Ryan McAidoo took control
Rafe McCormack – 6
Was a road block to a lot of City attacks as he snapped in to lots of perfectly timed tackles. Had his wings clipped when he was booked and was unfortunate to be sacrificed at half-time. Booked.
Jim Thwaites – 7
Easy to see why he is seen as the next man up with the first team. He’s press resistant and no player at United looked as confident taking the ball under pressure as he did. Just got tasked with too much to do in a midfield battle that was won by City’s physicality.
Amir Ibragimov – 5
Started out on the right, which isn’t where he’s best, and then was shifted inside at half-time. He’s a fabulously intricate and creative player but he was almost completely nullified here. A tough outing.
Noah Ajayi – 6
A star in the making. At 6’2 he has the frame and as the season wore on he got better and better. Started so aggressively and purposeful here but faded. Needs to be more alive to his defensive assignments when people like McAidoo are running riot down your side.
Chido Obi – 5
Much like Lamb, this was a game crying out for him to take over and dominate. He never managed to do it and left with just two chances to score, one of which came in the final 30 seconds. By his standards this was an opportunity missed for such a talent.
JJ Gabriel – 5.5
Showed flashes of his brilliance but this was a master plan by City in shutting down the nation’s best teenage talent. He was completely eliminated from the game in the second half no matter what United did to get him involved. Booked for diving – which seemed harsh.
JJ Gabriel, the nation’s best teenage title, was completely eliminated from this encounter
United Under-18s boss Darren Fletcher seemed on edge throughout and didn’t quite get it right
Manager: Darren Fletcher – 6
Seemed on edge from when this one started. Didn’t quite find the right balance, particularly out wide. Another learning curve after defeat in a second successive cup final this season.
SUBS
Junior Brown (for McCormack, 46) – 5
James Overy (for Kukonki, 80) – 6
Samuel Lusale (for Ajayi, 90) – 6.5
Dante Plunkett (for Helafu, 90) – 6
