Australian teenager James Overy produced a brilliant assist to send Manchester United to the FA Youth Cup Final on Saturday morning AEST.
The Red Devils’ Under-18 side were locked at 1-1 with Crystal Palace after 90 minutes in the semi-final after JJ Gabriel’s opener was cancelled out by Raihaan Anderson, taking the match to extra time at Old Trafford.
Having come off the bench in the 97th minute, Perth-born Overy seized his moment in the 115th minute.
Overy’s 115th minute assist sends Man Utd to FA Youth Cup Final
The 18-year-old picked up the ball on the right flank, took a stride forward and delivered an inch-perfect curling through ball to put Chido Obi through on goal. Obi rounded the goalkeeper and finished to put United 2-1 up and send them to the final.
Darren Fletcher’s side will now face neighbours Manchester City in the decider in Early May, with the date and venue still to be confirmed.
For Overy, this moment is the stuff of dreams.
The Aussie teenager told football360.com.au recently that he grew up supporting United, getting up at 3am in Perth to watch all the action from the other side of the globe.
Now, he’s the one making magic happen at Old Trafford.
Overy will be hoping that Socceroos boss Tony Popovic was watching, with the 18-year-old holding hopes he could make a late bolt into Australia’s squad for the upcoming World Cup, particularly with depth at right-back somewhat light following Lewis Miller’s unfortunate injury.
The defender was called up to the senior side last year, but is yet to make his debut and pulled out of the Under-23 national team’s matches in China last month with illness.
In recent weeks, Overy has featured for United’s Under-21 side and will hope his last season form can win him a spot at a first World Cup.