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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Kieran King

Bruno Fernandes congratulates Man Utd youngsters after record-breaking FA Youth Cup win

Bruno Fernandes has described Manchester United Under 18s' FA Youth Cup victory over Nottingham Forest as "brilliant" after the young Red Devils secured their 11th title.

Alejandro Garnacho proved to be the match-winner on the night as he converted a late brace to put the game beyond Forest. That was after Joshua Powell had equalised for the visitors, profiting from a Radek Vitek howler.

The equaliser was a response to home captain Rhys Bennett opening the scoring after just 12 minutes at a sold-out Old Trafford. Garnacho's first came from the penalty spot after he was brought down, before he grabbed his second in eight minutes of added-time, with a cruel deflection giving Aaron Bott no chance and handing the 'Class of 22' the trophy.

This was the first time United had won the Youth Cup since 2011, where Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Ravel Morrison all featured in the Red Devils team which beat Harry Maguire's Sheffield United.

After the game, Fernandes said: "Brilliant victory. Enjoy the moment."

The man in charge of United's Youth Cup success 11 years ago was Warren Joyce, who was in the opposite dugout as he helped to try and mastermind Forest to the win. They beat nine-time winners Chelsea in the semi-final and a run of 13 games unbeaten further proved their pedigree and not a single point separates them in the league table.

Before the game got under way, the match had broken a record that shows the appetite for youth football in Britain - or maybe just some good football on show at Old Trafford. The Red Devils' website confirmed on Wednesday morning that Old Trafford was a sell-out after more than 67,000 tickets were snapped up, including 6,000 by travelling Forest fans.

The previous record was 38,187 for when United faced Arsenal at the Emirates in the 2007 semi-final. Tickets were sold for just £1 and all the proceeds went towards the Manchester United Foundation, which works with disadvantaged children across Greater Manchester.

After getting well acquainted with one another over the course of 90 hard-fought minutes, the two teams will do it all over again on Saturday. The under-18 sides will face off at United's Carrington training complex in three days' time, with both the Red Devils and Forest locked on 41 points in third and fourth place respectively.

Not only is the rematch a chance at some sort of revenge, but it's the final day of the season and one which could decide the futures of a host of young stars at each club.

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