Chido Obi performed Marcus Rashford’s trademark celebration as he scored a hat-trick, leading Manchester United’s Under-18s to a commanding 5-1 victory over Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup.
The 17-year-old Danish youth international was the standout player, notably copying Rashford’s signature gesture of pointing to his temple after netting his second goal at Leigh Sports Village on Wednesday. Obi’s performance was instrumental in helping United secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
Obi’s first goal was a crucial equalizer after Chelsea had taken the lead. He latched onto a through ball from Jaydan Kamason, finishing expertly with a first-time shot. He then made it 4-1 after being set up by Gabriele Biancheri and completed his hat-trick by capitalizing on a loose ball in the box just after the hour mark.
Rashford, currently on loan at Aston Villa, frequently celebrated his goals with this signature move while at United, and Obi honored the exiled star following his fourth goal of the night.
The victory not only propelled United to the quarter-finals but also set up a meeting with Obi’s former club, Arsenal. His hat-trick brought his tally in this season’s FA Youth Cup to seven goals, potentially catching the attention of first-team manager Ruben Amorim, especially as United’s senior side has been struggling to find the net.
Obi joined United from Arsenal last summer, where he had an impressive record of scoring 32 goals in just 20 appearances for their Under-18 side. This achievement marked the most goals ever scored by an Arsenal player at that level in a single campaign, surpassing the previous record held by Folarin Balogun. Obi had also made headlines last season by netting 10 goals in a single match for Arsenal Under-16s against Liverpool.