FAYC: United 3 Charlton 2

United moved into the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup with a dramatic 3-2 victory against Charlton in a pulsating encounter at Old Trafford. In what was a tremendous advertisement for football at this level, goals from Jack Barmby, maintaining his record of scoring in every round, Gyliano van Velzen and James Wilson handed the Reds a splendid success. But that does not begin to tell half of the story. We were deep into 10 minutes of stoppage time, following an injury to Harry Gerard that left the Addicks down to 10 men, when schoolboy substitute Wilson fulfilled every United fan's dream by tucking in the winner - at a time when the Londoners were looking far more likelier winnners, even despite their numerical disadvantage. The Addicks appeared the bigger side beforehand and tried to impose their physical advantage early on with Luke Hendrie hurt by a first-minute challenge that probably contributed to his withdrawal in the second half. Luke McCullough, back from injury to skipper the side, and Sam Byrne had early efforts before Jonny Sutherland needed to pull off a marvellous stop to tip Callum Harriott's drive onto the bar. Sutherland also thwarted Oliver Muldoon, the visitors' hero from the previous round's win at Tottenham, and Tobi Sho-Silva after Jack Rudge should have opened the scoring at the other end from a Tyler Blackett cross.United moved into the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup with a dramatic 3-2 victory against Charlton in a pulsating encounter at Old Trafford. In what was a tremendous advertisement for football at this level, goals from Jack Barmby, maintaining his record of scoring in every round, Gyliano van Velzen and James Wilson handed the Reds a splendid success. But that does not begin to tell half of the story. We were deep into 10 minutes of stoppage time, following an injury to Harry Gerard that left the Addicks down to 10 men, when schoolboy substitute Wilson fulfilled every United fan's dream by tucking in the winner - at a time when the Londoners were looking far more likelier winnners, even despite their numerical disadvantage. The Addicks appeared the bigger side beforehand and tried to impose their physical advantage early on with Luke Hendrie hurt by a first-minute challenge that probably contributed to his withdrawal in the second half. Luke McCullough, back from injury to skipper the side, and Sam Byrne had early efforts before Jonny Sutherland needed to pull off a marvellous stop to tip Callum Harriott's drive onto the bar. Sutherland also thwarted Oliver Muldoon, the visitors' hero from the previous round's win at Tottenham, and Tobi Sho-Silva after Jack Rudge should have opened the scoring at the other end from a Tyler Blackett cross.However, with extra time looming and the excitement reaching fever pitch, van Velzen got away down the left and centred for Wilson to sidefoot home a clinical finish that rolled in to take United through to a two-legged semi-final against Chelsea, a repeat of the last-four clash in the 2010 competition. Charlton went down fighting, almost literally in Diego Poyet's case, who was booked for a flare-up with Byrne and deserve credit for their part in a scintillating encounter. United: Sutherland; Grimshaw, Ioannou, McCullough, Blackett; Barmby (Gorre 95), Rudge (Ekangamene 89), Hendrie (Wilson 56), Daehli; van Velzen, Byrne. Subs not used: Jacob, Rowley