Manchester United dented Club NI’s hopes of securing back to back semi-finals places in the Junior section at a packed Seahaven on Wednesday evening.
The Red Devils claimed their second win of the week and as a result set up a semi-final against County Armagh at the Coleraine Showgrounds.
Club NI had gone in to the tie buoyed by a draw against Rangers and a win over County Londonderry, but it was the Premier League giants that topped Group A.
Jim Magilton’s side took time to settle into the tie but they were making in-roads in the Manchester United defence down the left hand side through Carson and Forbes.
Michael Forbes almost broke the deadlock but United managed to scramble clear the danger and minutes later the Old Trafford youngsters were ahead.
A United winger drifted across the box and was fouled just inside the area. Zidane Iqbal stepped up and slotted the ball past McDowell to give United the lead at half time.
Club NI bossed the early stages of the second half and they had plenty of opportunities to draw level but simply couldn’t find the finishing touches.
United soon started to gain a foothold once more and good work down the right saw Manni Norkett grab his second goal of the tournament as he fired home after a scramble in the box.
It was game, set and match with just minutes left when Charlie Savage poked the ball past McDowell from the edge of the box and secured United’s place in the final four of the Super Cup NI Junior section.