Manchester United’s U18s continued in winning fashion on Saturday to keep dreams of a second successive U18 Premier League alive.
Despite the positive outcome, Adam Lawrence likely experienced discomfort during significant portions of the match, as his team allowed Derby County to take the lead on two occasions.
The match featured top-of-the-table Manchester United facing off against third-placed Derby, and it unfolded as a fiercely contested encounter. The home team initially took the lead, but Jim Thwaites’ free-kick was headed in by Dan Armer to equalize.
Following this, the United academy found themselves trailing once more. In response, Lawrence turned to his substitutes, and shortly thereafter, Gabriele Biancheri successfully converted Tyler Fletcher’s chipped cross, leveling the score at 2-2.
Ultimately, United secured a 3-2 victory, with James Scanlon scoring the decisive penalty that restored the Red Devils to the top of the league.
In the aftermath of the match, one player received notable commendation.
Liam Bradford praises Amir Ibragimov’s impact
The pivotal moment in the match for United occurred in the 62nd minute when Lawrence opted to make a substitution, introducing Amir Ibragimov from the bench.
As anticipated, the 16-year-old proved to be a significant influence, altering the dynamics of the game for United. He played a crucial role in the Biancheri goal by providing the assist to Fletcher.
Additionally, Ibragimov was responsible for winning the penalty that led to Scanlon scoring the decisive goal.
Following Ibragimov’s impactful performance, MUTV’s Liam Bradford commented on the contributions of the Dagestan-born midfielder.
“Amir Ibragimov has posed a considerable threat; he made a substantial impact. He consistently finds space between the lines, presenting a challenge for defenders.”
Amir Ibragimov has become the unsung star of Manchester United’s U18s
While Chido Obi, Scanlon, and Biancheri are capturing the majority of the attention, Ibragimov’s campaign has been quietly impressive. He has proven to be a ‘joy to watch’ for United, demonstrating increasing effectiveness on the field.
This season, Ibragimov has accumulated nine goals and seven assists at the U21 and U18 levels, in addition to a significant tally of goals and assists in the U17s, where he began the season.
This marks Ibragimov’s inaugural campaign as a regular in the U18 squad, and he has certainly lived up to the expectations of a wonderkid, despite being only 16 years old. He has even appeared to be a cut above when competing against senior players.
Whenever Ibragimov is introduced onto the field, he consistently makes an impact, with his exceptional class, technical skills, and intensity being standout attributes that establish him as a true star.