U18s match summary: Middlesbrough v United
Manchester United's Under-18s continued our impressive start to the campaign with a convincing 4-0 victory at Middlesbrough.
Gabriele Biancheri's clinical strike provided the perfect early boost and the captain doubled the lead from the spot after the break.
Further goals from Victor Musa and Bendito Mantato wrapped up a thoroughly deserved triumph for Adam Lawrence's boys at Rockliffe Park.
Wearing the white third kit, United soon went ahead as, in the seventh minute, James Scanlon did well to control an awkward pass and laid the ball off for Biancheri to find the bottom corner of the net with a low drive.
Boro almost responded instantly, and had other decent openings in the first half, with Cameron Byrne-Hughes forced into one splendid double save, but we were good value for the lead at the interval, with Mantato and Tyler Fletcher having chances to provide some breathing space.
Biancheri was bundled over in the box, when about to shoot, and got up to thump home the penalty on 53 minutes but the striker was withdrawn on 66 minutes, as the Teessiders gained some kind of grip on proceedings.
However, the points were made safe when two substitutes combined, Amir Ibragimov providing the through ball to Musa, whose finish kissed a post on the way in.
In the 90th minute, another chance was taken when Mantato raced onto another fine pass by Ibragimov to slip home number four.
United: Byrne-Hughes; Kamason, Armer, Kukonki, Plunkett (Bailey 62); Baumann, T. Fletcher (Thwaites 66); Mantato, Fitzgerald, Scanlon (Ibragimov 62); Biancheri (c) (Musa 66).
Sub not used: Heath.
Scorers: Biancheri 7, 53 (pen), Musa 79, Mantato 90.