Manchester United under-18s complete Treble and prolific striker scores 23rd goal of season – as it happened

Manchester United’s under-18s have completed their own Treble after beating Chelsea in the Premier League under-18s national title game.

Manchester United had already won the Premier League North under-18s title, losing only two league games all season, one after the league was already won. This led to the face-off against South winners Chelsea.

United’s under-18s had added further silverware a fortnight ago, winning the Premier League Cup knockout tournament, beating City in the final with two goals from Ethan Wheatley.

Now after a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge through goals from Wheatley and Ethan Williams, the under-18s have collected a third trophy of the season.

• READ: Meet Manchester United’s 2023/24 under-18s title winning wonderkids

Manchester United v Chelsea under-18s national final

Chelsea had home advantage at Stamford Bridge. Here is a look how it all went down…

First, this was how Manchester United’s team lined up…

XI: Harrison; Amass, Kingdon, Jackson, Ogunneye; McAllister (c), Curley, Jack Fletcher, Scanlon, Williams, Wheatley

Substitutes: Myles, Sharpe, Biancheri, Devaney, Nolan

Kick-off is at 7pm and United In Focus will be providing updates throughout the game.

Key moments…

• 2 min: United begin brightly, Ethan Williams sees a ball into the penalty box cut out by the Chelsea defence.
• 4 min: Jack Fletcher has a free-kick from outside the box, but it hits the wall.
• 6 min: Elyh Harrison saves comfortably at his near post from Chelsea’s first attack.
• 14 min: Ethan Wheatley beats the offside trap and shoots low, the goalkeeper tips his shot onto the post.
• 15 min: Wheatley scores but the flag is up. Offside.
• 18 min: Fletcher shoots from outside the box, saved.
• 21 min: GOAL! 1-0 to Man Utd: Ethan Wheatley scores, finishing a one v one chance. Assist from Ethan Williams.
• 38 min: United are still on top, Wheatley wins a free-kick. Few clear cut chances for either side.
• 40 min: Williams has a shot from long range, saved.
• 44 min: Break in play as Wheatley goes down injured. He is able to continue.
• Half-time
• Substitution: James Nolan comes on for Habeeb Ogunneye, who was booked in the first half.
• 47 min: Goal 1-1: A bad start to the second half for United as Josh Acheampong scores a header from close range.
• 52 min: Chelsea come close to taking the lead on the counter-attack but the shot goes just wide.
• GOAL! 2-1 to Man Utd: Chelsea’s defence block an effort from Jack Fletcher, it falls to Ethan Williams and he scores with a first-time shot. Great work from Wheatley to create the initial chance.
• 61 min: Amass has a shot but it is over the bar.
• Substitution: Finley McAllister off and Jacob Devaney on.
• 62 min: Wheatley twists and turns in the penalty area, his shot is saved.
• 70 min: Harrison saves a shot at his near post, and then makes a high claim from the resulting corner.
• Substitution: Malachi Sharpe replaces James Scanlon.
• 74 min: Harry Amass surges up the left wing and wins a corner, great play.
• 78 min: Crucial interception from Devaney inside the box to prevent a clear shot at goal for Chelsea.
• 81 min: Wheatley wins the ball back on the edge of the area and should score. He gets caught deciding whether to pass or shoot, and eventually drags his shot wide.
• Substitution: Gabriele Biancheri replaces Ethan Williams.
• 90 min: Seven minutes of injury time are added.
• 92 min: Wheatley shoots from a difficult angle, saved.
• 95 min: United break away on a counter attack and Wheatley should score. He curls his shot wide one v one.
• 98 min: Curley and Biancheri both almost score. It doesn’t matter. Full-time!

Manchester United’s under-18s have now qualified for the 2024/25 UEFA Youth League as national champions.

This is the first time United have won the national title in it’s current format, and it is a huge achievement for Adam Lawrence’s side to win three trophies in one season.

Centre-back Louis Jackson now has four under-18s trophies, winning the FA Youth Cup alongside Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho in 2022 when he was just 16.

• READ MORE: Manchester United’s Best Academy Players of All Time

Ethan Wheatley finishes dream season on 23 goals

Ethan Wheatley has enjoyed a dream season on a personal level, this was his 23rd goal of the season at academy level. He also has five assists.

Wheatley recently made his Manchester United first team debut, becoming the club’s historic 250th academy graduate.

The academy season is now over, and Wheatley could have a further part to play for the first team yet in 2023/24.