Nigerian striker Chido Obi-Martin played a pivotal role in Manchester United’s dominant 5-2 win over Preston North End in the Youth FA Cup on Friday night, scoring twice in an impressive performance.
The young centre-forward, who made the move to United from Arsenal this summer, has been in strong form, netting five goals and adding one assist in just five U18 Premier League matches.
Obi-Martin was responsible for United’s third and fourth goals, while Jack Fletcher, Reece Munro, and Amir Ibragimov also got on the score sheet.
He had a hand in the opening goal, playing a smart pass that set up James Scanlon to assist Jack Fletcher, who finished the move after the goalkeeper’s clearance in the 7th minute.
In the 24th minute, Obi-Martin opened his account for the night by reacting quickly to a loose ball, turning sharply, and finishing from close range.
His second goal came just seven minutes later with a display of individual skill, as he danced past his defender and curled a precise shot into the bottom-right corner.
There were high hopes for Obi-Martin ahead of the match, especially with star forward Gabriele Biancheri sidelined due to an arm injury. Biancheri, a Welsh youth international, has been in exceptional form this season, scoring 16 goals in 17 games, including a hat-trick in the third round against Coventry City.
With Biancheri out, Obi-Martin rose to the occasion, showcasing his ability to lead the attack as United moves on to face Chelsea in the fifth round of the Youth FA Cup.