Man City U18s let Man Utd score after mix-up over throwing ball back after injury

Probably the strangest thing you'll see on a football field all weekend

Manchester City's U18 side allowed Manchester United a free run on goal to score on Saturday after a misunderstanding around giving their opponents possession back when the ball had been kicked out of play for an injury. United's youngsters, leading 2-0 over their local rivals thanks to a double from Charlie McNeill, had kicked the ball into touch to allow treatment for an injured player shortly before the interval. City were expected to throw the ball back to United when play resumed, only for Tai Sodje to intercept the throw and fire the ball home to halve the deficit. With no rules against this, the referee allowed the goal to stand, despite protests from some United players. https://twitter.com/TheSecretScout_/status/1360559285420367876 City, however, decided to act after the misunderstanding, allowing United an unchallenged run on goal to restore their two-goal cushion through McNeill, who completed his hat-trick against his former club in bizarre fashion. https://twitter.com/TheFergusonWay/status/1360561549836918787 Sodje scored a second for City shortly after the break, this time without controversy. There was to be no comeback from City, however. The game remained 3-2 until stoppage time, when McNeill scored his and United's fourth to make certain of victory.