Sheffield United 2 Manchester United 2: Young Blades are a top draw in FA Youth Cup

18 May 2011 00:21
ShareBramall Lane's biggest crowd of the season saw Sheffield United score their best goal of the season in the FA Youth Cup final first leg against Manchester United.[LNB]Callum McFadzean hit a sledgehammer in the Steel City to bring 29,977 fans to their feet and give them hope in the second leg against the record nine-times winners at Old Trafford next Monday. [LNB]The Blades' previous top attendance this season was 23,728 in the Championshipagainst Leeds and the average was 20,632. [LNB]Tuesday night's crowd was treated to a fabulous match that could have ended in agoal-glut. [LNB] Crowd-puller: McFadzean celebrates for the Blades[LNB]Goals from Jesse Lingard and Will Keane for the visitors were cancelled out by strikes from McFadzean and Jordan Slew and there were numerous goal line clearances and excellent saves. [LNB]Manchester United went ahead in the 16th minute in dubious circumstances. [LNB]Lingard's shot was diverted skywards by the body of goalkeeper George Long and as the ball looped towards the empty net, defender Harry Maguire appeared to head the  ball off the bar and away.[LNB] But  the assistant referee flagged for a goal which even surprised the visitors. [LNB]But midfielder McFadzean struck to level just before the interval with an unstoppable left-foot drive from 30 yards. [LNB] A packed house: Bramall Lane saw its biggest attendance of the season[LNB]The Manchester side went ahead again in the 70th minute through a sublime goal constructed by French talent Paul Pogba. [LNB]Will Keane tapped in after Lingard had volleyed Pogba's chip across goal. [LNB]Jordan Slew, who has two Championship goals to his name this season, equalised almost straight away. His shot from distance took a telling deflection off Manchester United captain Tom Thorpe. [LNB]It was all Sheffield United deserved and on this evidence they have more than a chance at the Theatre of Dreams next week.  [LNB] Ferguson escapes with warning over ref comments as Carlo is also ticked offBeckham set for Old Trafford as Neville testimonial reunites Class of '92Fergie to draw on reserves of power as United chief prepares to rotate squad All the latest Manchester United news, features and opinion[LNB]  Explore more:Places: Leeds, Manchester

Source: Daily_Mail