Manchester City left it until the final minutes to find a decisive goal but are the winners of the FA Youth Cup after beating Man United.
Reigan Heskey struck late on
Reigan Heskey struck late on
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They made everyone wait, but Manchester City got exactly what they wanted from the FA Youth Cup final. Goals from Floyd Samba and Reigan Heskey were enough to secure a 2-1 win that writes the class of 2026 into the City record books as winners.
City's decision to host this game at the Joie Stadium, with the Etihad Stadium unavailable due to construction works, caused untold hysteria about whether the club were devaluing youth football. City's wish to give their players a more familiar - and, crucially, a friendlier atmosphere than Old Trafford would have offered - had logic but also deprived both sets of players from playing in front of a bigger audience.
Swathes of empty seats at the Joie Stadium was a poor effort and there was the potential for the whole showpiece to backfire in City faces. The young Blues had pipped United in the Under-18s league, but it was a tense contest between two teams that were closely matched.
Nerves were apparent from the off, and the referee handed out a yellow card on each side for trying to win penalties before Samba stepped up to smash City in front from a free-kick. The City No.8 had gone close earlier in the half in the box but there was no stopping his effort from 25 yards out.
That should have given City the calmness they needed, yet they conceded almost immediately when Harrison Miles lost possession and Leke Drake seemed to lose his footing to let Godwill Kukonki head past Max Hudson in front of the travelling United fans.
Miles was otherwise one of City's best players, as was skipper Kaden Braithwaite bringing the ball out regularly from the back, and City started to get Ryan McAidoo more involved in the second half. The exciting winger slipped in Heskey to hit the side-netting and then danced into the box only to blast over as the young Blues looked to turn the screw.
The game was crying out for someone to take it by the scruff of the neck but it looked like it would prove beyond either team until City pounced in the final five minutes. Jake Wain, having played just 14 minutes of FA Youth Cup football this season after rotten luck with injuries, took control of a loose ball and played it through to McAidoo, who did well to retain the ball in the box and recycle it.
The ball went left to Heskey and this time he was clinical, blasting a shot past the United 'keeper. Phil Foden, Antoine Semenyo, Nathan Ake, Max Alleyne, and Pep Guardiola were all present as the stadium erupted to celebrate the winner.
It hadn't been pretty, but having lost their two big finals last season this was some form of redemption for Oli Reiss and his players to get over the line. The club could say they gave their youngsters the conditions to win, and the team march onto a national final with Chelsea next week looking to complete a double.