Carlos Borges and Dire Mebude show Man City how to win title as U18s seal historic trophy

A wonderful goal from Dire Mebude completed a first-half turnaround for Manchester City on Thursday to add another trophy to the academy's growing reputation as the best youth system in the country.

City's talented under-18s had already won their regional division by a distance but had one final obstacle to be named national champions against Southern division winners Southampton. With City's first team facing a final of their own on Sunday to seal another Premier League title, Pep Guardiola's squad would do worse than watch the youth side's mature performance in this final to secure the title after falling behind.

The Blues have now retained the title they have won for the last two seasons, and have lifted a national trophy at all youth levels from under-16 to under-23. The top two youth age groups have both won their national titles for two years in a row, and the first team will complete an incredible 'double-treble' of Premier League titles if they can add a third back-to-back success at the weekend. If this win at Southampton is anything to go by, City's academy will be in the hunt for more titles next year too, brushing aside a strong Saints side with relative ease in the end.

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That's not to say this victory was all plain-sailing, though, as Southampton tested City's character with a performance they can certainly be proud of. City should have known that the hosts would be up for this one - and they were treating it like a huge game from even before kick-off. With free tickets encouraging a big crowd at St Mary's, and a marching brass band welcoming the players onto the pitch playing 'Oh When The Saints Go Marching In', Southampton