Manchester United cruised into the fifth spherical of the FA Cup by overpowering ten-man Reading at Old Trafford on Saturday night time.
The Championship guests stored their hosts out for the primary 45 minutes however United ultimately broke their resistance as Casemiro struck twice in fast succession.
The Brazilian ran onto Antony’s move and chipped Joe Lumley to place Erik ten Hag’s facet 1-0 up earlier than an extended vary strike discovered its manner into the underside nook from 25 yards.
Andy Carroll charged round with aggression all night time and ended up being despatched off for 2 bookable offences earlier than Fred added a 3rd, cleverly back-heeling Fernandes’ cross in on the entrance put up.
United switched off in the 72nd minute to reward Reading a comfort, with Amadou Salif Mbengue given a free header to cut back the deficit three minutes after his introduction.
The Red Devils noticed out the remainder of the competition to ebook their place in the subsequent spherical, becoming a member of the likes of Manchester City, Tottenham and Leeds.
United regarded sharp all through the primary half, shortly exploding into assault with alternatives for Wout Weghorst and Christian Eriksen earlier than a double likelihood fell to for Eriksen and Marcus Rashford. However, Lumley denied them on each events.
Fernandes lifted an effort simply over earlier than an excellent Antony run ended with out reward.
The impasse appeared to have been damaged ten minutes earlier than half time when Rashford smashed in from shut vary, however Weghorst was proven to have been offside in the build-up.
The breakthrough ultimately got here when two Brazilians mixed to chop by means of Reading’s defence. Antony picked out Casemiro with a exact move, permitting the previous Real Madrid midfielder to run in and dink Lumley for the sport’s opener.
He netted his second objective simply earlier than the hour mark with extra of a pot shot. A free kick was by no means absolutely cleared by Reading and Casemiro struck a fierce effort from distance that whistled in.
United’s job bought lots simpler when Carroll was given his second yellow card for wiping out Casemiro they usually took benefit of their numerical superiority by netting a 3rd.
A brief nook was labored to Fernandes, who fired the ball into Fred to inventively flick the ball past Lumley.
The guests had been rewarded for his or her efforts when United all of a sudden went limp at a nook, permitting substitute Mbengue a free header to cut back the deficit. It meant little, nonetheless, with the Royals exiting the FA Cup and United reaching the final 16.
GK: David de Gea – 6/10 – Unsurprisingly a quiet night time for De Gea, who needed to clear up free ball once in a while. Sharp cease to disclaim Hoilett.
RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 7/10 – Left the tackling to Malacia on the left however one other show which reveals his enchancment beneath Ten Hag.
CB: Victor Lindelof – 6/10 – Decent sufficient for many of the night time however he and Maguire will not be again in the Premier League beginning XI anytime quickly conceding poor targets from corners.
CB: Harry Maguire – 6/10 – We all bought the Maguire vs Carroll battle we did not know we would have liked. He got here out of that conflict having carried out properly sufficient.
LB: Tyrell Malacia – 7/10 – Did current a giant likelihood to Hoilett however managed to get up to ship a greater efficiency.
CM: Casemiro – 9/10 – Provided a run from midfield and completed Antony’s move properly earlier than netting from distance. Simply can not do any mistaken proper now.
CM: Christian Eriksen – 6/10 – Came shut with a free kick that whizzed previous the put up.
RW: Antony – 8/10 – Produced some marvellous operating and the burden of move on his supply to Casemiro was excellent. Delivered finish product which has been lacking lately.
AM: Bruno Fernandes – 7/10 – Got United purring in assault and performed the ball in for Fred to make in 3-0.
LW: Marcus Rashford – 7/10 – No targets for the England worldwide however his tempo and direct operating was a menace.
ST: Wout Weghorst – 7/10 – Provided some extra selfless urgent and occupied defenders whereas his teammates did the harm.
Substitutes
Fred (57′ for Christian Eriksen) – 8/10 – Got United’s third and was environment friendly throughout his sub look.
Facundo Pellestri (68′ for Fernandes) – 6/10 – Quiet ultimate 20 minute look.
Alejandro Garnacho (68′ for Rashford) – 6/10
Kobbie Mainoo (68′ for Rashford) – 6/10
Anthony Elanga (73′ for Weghorst) – 6/10
Manager
Erik ten Hag – 7/10 – United averted any fears of a possible upset with a second half blitz which allowed Ten Hag to shuffle his pack in late on.
GK: Joe Lumley (5); CB: Tom McIntyre (6), CB: Tom Holmes (6), CB: Junior Hoilett (5); RWB: Andy Yiadom (5), CM: Jeff Hendrick (6), CM: Abdul Rahman Baba (6), CM: Tom Ince (7), LWB: Mamadou Loum (6) ST: Andy Carroll (5), ST: Lucas Joao (6).
SUBS: Tyrese Fornah (6), Amadou Salif Mbengue (8), Dean Bouzanis (6), Shane Long (6).
