Manchester City U18s Reach FA Youth Cup Final After Semi-Final Victory
Wilkinson Implores City to Finish the Job
U18s Triumph in FA Youth Cup Semi-Final
Manchester City's Under-18s have booked their place in the FA Youth Cup final after a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in the second leg of their semi-final clash. With a 3-2 aggregate score, City will now face Chelsea in the final at St. George's Park on Wednesday, April 26.
After a goalless draw in the first leg, City knew they needed to produce a positive result at the Academy Stadium. And they did just that, dominating possession and creating several chances in the opening stages.
The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Liam Delap converted a penalty after he was brought down in the area. City continued to press for more goals, and they eventually doubled their lead through Dire Mebude in the 70th minute. The young winger coolly slotted home after being set up by Delap.
Head coach Ben Wilkinson was delighted with his team's performance and praised their determination to reach the final.
"I'm very proud of the boys," Wilkinson said. "They showed great character and resilience to come through a tough game. We knew Blackburn would be a difficult opponent, but we stuck to our game plan and got the result we needed."
Wilkinson is now urging his team to finish the job and lift the FA Youth Cup trophy for the first time since 2016.
"We're one step away from winning a major trophy," Wilkinson said. "We need to stay focused and prepare properly for the final. Chelsea will be a tough opponent, but I believe we have the quality to beat them."
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