Kai Rooney makes his debut as U-18s progress
Manchester United’s Under-18s produced an exciting performance in their FA Youth Cup clash with Derby County last night, a match that will be remembered not just for the result but for the moment it provided for one of the club’s brightest young prospects. United edged Derby 2-1 after extra time at Old Trafford, advancing to the next round of the youth competition in dramatic fashion. The game was deadlocked at 0-0 through normal time before an own goal put United ahead in extra time, after a ball in from substitute James Overy, before Chido Obi made it 2-0, and they held on despite Derby pulling one back late to secure the win.
One of the headline moments was the Old Trafford debut of Kai Rooney, the 16-year-old son of club legend Wayne Rooney. Kai, who signed for United’s academy aged 11 in 2020, came off the bench in the 99th minute to make his first competitive appearance at the Theatre of Dreams, watched proudly by his parents in the directors’ box. The home crowd delighted in chanting Rooney’s name as he stripped off ready to come on. After the game, Wayne tweeted a picture of him and Kai on the pitch when he was just a child, next to a photo of him playing last night.
United’s path to this tie had seen them win earlier rounds, including a 1-0 victory over Peterborough in the third round, setting the stage for this tough fourth-round challenge. Derby County pushed United all the way, and the match required extra time to separate the teams, showing the competitive edge that youth football often produces.
In contrast to this cup game, Manchester United’s U18s have also been active in league competition. Last season they recorded a 3-2 comeback win over Derby County in a U18 Premier League fixture, fighting back from two goals down thanks to strikes from James Scanlon and Bendito Mantato. That victory highlighted United’s resilience and attacking threat in youth league action.
Kai Rooney’s involvement this week adds an extra layer of interest, not only due to his famous surname but also because of how his youth career is progressing. Having scored goals and attracted attention at academy level, his competitive appearance at Old Trafford suggests the coaching staff see real potential in his development. As United’s U18s now look ahead to their next Youth Cup opponents, they’ll carry confidence from this hard-fought derby victory and the buzz of seeing one of their young talents take an important step forward at one of football’s most iconic stadiums.
Ahead of the game, interim manager Michael Carrick talked about the importance of the competition.
I was lucky enough to play in it, and win it, when I was young at West Ham. It is such an important competition, especially for this club, and the youngsters, at Old Trafford, under the floodlights, will be feeling what it means and feeling a little bit of expectation.
It’s a fantastic opportunity for the young boys to go and take the next step. We’re all fully behind them. It’ll be a tough game but I’m looking forward to going along and watching.
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