Manchester City secured their place in the FA Youth Cup semi-final on Friday evening, after a 3-0 win over Everton at the Joie Stadium.
It was a tight but entertaining first half, with opportunities for both teams to break the deadlock as City pressed forward while Everton always posed a threat on the counter attack.
In fact, it was City's Max Hudson who was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the opening stages as he made a succession of saves to keep the visitors at bay.
City's Ryan McAidoo and Reigan Heskey were proving effective on either flank, and both came the closest to scoring before Xavier Parker hit the post from close range after Everton keeper and captain Douglass Lukjanciks had made a good save to deny McAidoo.
Floyd Samba then fired a curling shot at goal which hit the angle of post and bar and bounced over.
The City youngster didn't have to wait long for his goal after the restart though, as he converted from the penalty spot just after the hour mark to put his team ahead after Parker had been fouled.
With Everton reduced to ten players following a red card for Malik Olayiwola for a late tackle, City took advantage by stepping up and adding two more goals to their tally.
Heskey doubled the advantage after 73 minutes with an eye-catching and precise finish, before substitute Teddy Lamb made it 3-0 with one of his first touches two minutes later, to seal their semi-final spot and a game against Blackburn Rovers.
Earlier in the week, Crystal Palace and Blackburn Rovers became the first two teams to seal their place in the FA Youth Cup semi-finals, following victories in the quarter-finals on Tuesday evening.
Palace made the trip to face the holders Aston Villa in the first tie of the evening, and a thrilling game ensued at Villa Park with Palace edging it by the odd goal in five courtesy of a last-gasp winner from Chuks Okoli.
Villa had taken an early lead through Jack McGrath, and almost doubled their advantage midway through the first half only for Teddie Bloomfield's strike to be ruled out for offside.
Five minutes later, Palace drew level courtesy of Benji Casey when he converted from close range following a cross from Joel Drakes-Thomas and a knock down by David Angibeaud to take the teams in level at the break.
The home team edged back in front after 56 minutes, when McGrath got his second of the game from the penalty spot before the game really opened up in the dying stages.
After chances for both teams, it was Palace who equalised with four minutes remaining as Angibeaud assisted again by setting up Raihaan Anderson to neatly level the contest.
And Palace weren't finished, as they found a winner in stoppage time when Judd's free-kick was knocked back across goal by Walker-Smith for Okoli to slide home the winner.
There was late drama in Tuesday's other quarter-final tie too, as Blackburn edged the East Lancashire derby against neighbours Burnley at Ewood Park with a last-minute winner at Ewood Park to seal a 2-1 victory.
In a keenly contested and entertaining tie, it was Burnley who took the lead through Fabian So, when he smashed home from close range after the Clarets had seen off some early pressure from the hosts.
Burnley grew in confidence from there and could have doubled their advantage before half time, as the hosts held on.
And Rovers drew level shortly after the restart when Valentin Joseph evaded the Burnley defence to bundle home an equaliser after latching onto a through ball from midfield.
The tie then really came to life, with both teams going for the win and chances at both ends with local bragging rights at stake.
As the game moved into stoppage time, Burnley almost made it 2-1 when Kian McMahon-Brown did well to create a chance for himself only to see Rovers 'keeper Harry Holt make a stunning save.
But it was Blackburn who broke from there with just seconds left on the clock, when substitute Jayden Sergeant broke on the left and his low cross was converted from close range with fellow sub Harvey Higgins claiming the final touch.
The draw for the semi-finals and Final will be made on Friday 13 March.
Manchester United marched on the semi-finals after overcoming Sunderland in the final match-up of the quarter-final, running out 3-2 winners at Old Trafford.
The Reds – who have lifted this trophy more times than any other club, with eleven titles – set up a semi-final tie with Crystal Palace.
The breakthrough for the hosts came on the stroke of half time. Noah Ajayi picked up the ball in the opposition half, surging forward before taking aim from distance and picking out the bottom corner.
Sunderland were back on terms on the hour mark through Tom Proctor whose thumping finish crashed off the underside of the bar and rippled the net.
Moments later, the script was flipped as the Black Cats turned it around with two goals in two minutes as Felix Scott made it 2-1 to Sunderland.
However, United responded with 20 minutes remaining on the watch. Chido Obi equalised with a smart finish, beating two blue shirts and the goalkeeper, threading the ball through and into the net.
Junior Brown helped the Reds to re-take the lead with 76 minutes gone, blasting the ball home to notch the winner in front of over 2,500 fans.
