Under-17s reach Shanghai Future Star Cup final

Our under-17s have reached the final of the Shanghai Future Star Cup after seeing off Shanghai FA 4-3 on penalties.

The game in Pudong New Area went to a shootout after Daniel McCarron and Jaden Maghoma both found the target, only for the hosts to twice level in a 2-2 draw.

Luis Munoz and Maghoma both converted their spot kicks before our opponents missed their second attempt.

Saurap Sampang's chance to edge the decider was well saved, before Jack Talbot loomed large between the sticks to deny the Chinese side an equaliser.

Bowen Phillips scored our fourth from 12 yards, which set up the chance for Abraham Owusu-Gyasi to fire home the winner and send our young Gunners through to the ultimate stage.

We will face China in the final, having already met them in our opening group game of the tournament. Our opponents ran out 3-2 winners on that occasion, with a 97th-minute winner deciding the tie after goals from Jayden Oba and Emerson Nwaneri had twice brought us level.

Beyond the opener, we secured our place in the semi-final through a 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen and a 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao.

16 youth teams from China and abroad, including clubs from England, Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, and Argentina, each took part in the competition, which has seen women's teams feature alongside the men's event for the first time this year.

The tournament has been running since 2022, with Shanghai Blue Team, Ulsan Hyundai, Real Madrid and, most recently, Fluminense among the previous winners.

The final takes place on Sunday, with our academy side bidding to bring silverware back to Hale End.