Overview
- Manchester United’s U18s beat Crystal Palace 2-1 after extra time at Old Trafford on Friday, with JJ Gabriel scoring in the 77th minute and Chido Obi sealing it in the 116th.
- Manchester City will host the one-leg final on Friday, May 9, with the venue to be confirmed as either the Etihad Stadium or the Joie Stadium.
- Gabriel, 15, leads United’s U18 scoring this season with around 20 league goals and roughly 25 in all competitions, yet Premier League age rules keep him out of matchday squads until next season.
- Reports say City tried last summer to use an under-14 deregistration rule to sign him, with United director of football Jason Wilcox helping keep him, as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich now track his progress and his Irish passport would permit an EU move at 16.
- The FA Youth Cup is a key showcase for academy players, and United, record 11-time winners, now meet City in their first final clash since 1986.