Manchester United overcome Everton to advance to FA Cup fourth round
Manchester United recorded a 3-1 victory over fellow Premier League side Everton at Old Trafford to progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Conor Coady cancelled out an opener from Antony to leave the two sides level in the 14th minute, but Coady then scored an own goal early in the second half before Marcus Rashford netted a late penalty, as Erik ten Hag’s side advanced in the competition.
Man United have now been victorious in their last seven matches in all competitions, while the defeat will pile more pressure on Everton boss Frank Lampard despite the visitors giving a good account of themselves
The Red Devils have won the FA Cup on 12 occasions, but they have not lifted the trophy since 2016 under the management of Louis van Gaal.
Man United made the breakthrough in the fourth minute of the contest when Rashford broke down the left before driving a dangerous low cross towards the far post, where Antony was on hand to tap home.
Anthony Martial did brilliantly earlier in the move to work the ball wide, and Rashford was too quick for Ben Godfrey before delivering low into Antony, who simply could not miss.
Martial then fired just wide of the Everton post in the sixth minute, with Man United threatening to run away with the contest in the early exchanges at Old Trafford.
Casemiro was next to try his luck, striking wide of the target in the 11th minute, but Everton almost equalised in the 13th minute, with Demarai Gray’s brilliant strike hitting the post and then the back of David de Gea before dropping behind for a corner kick.
The Toffees did manage to level in the 14th minute, though, when Coady tapped home from close range following a huge mistake from De Gea, who failed to deal with a cross from Neal Maupay, with the ball getting stuck between the goalkeeper’s feet.
Martial had a brilliant chance to send Man United back ahead in the 17th minute when he was released by Rashford inside the box, but Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a brilliant save
The Frenchman then had a goal-bound strike blocked by James Tarkowski, with Man United looking dangerous every time that they had the ball in and around the Everton penalty box.
Pickford had to beat away a powerful Rashford drive in the 32nd minute, as the attacker attempted to catch out the Everton goalkeeper from distance.
Christian Eriksen then sent one just over the Everton crossbar with a brilliant effort, with the visitors surviving another dangerous moment at Old Trafford, and the two sides headed down the tunnel at 1-1.
Everton lost Alex Iwobi to what looked to be a serious injury early in the second half, with the attacker’s foot getting stuck in the turf when he was challenged by Tyrell Malacia.
Man United regained the lead in the 52nd minute of the contest when a driven cross from Rashford was converted into the back of his own net by Coady.
Pickford had to keep out a strike from Antony two minutes later, before Everton had a huge chance down the other end just past the hour, with Vitalii Mykolenko having a goal-bound strike blocked by Diogo Dalot after De Gea had kept out Seamus Coleman’s effort.
Bruno Fernandes tested Pickford with a long-range strike in the 66th minute, and it was delicately poised heading into the final 20 minutes, with Everton still very much in the contest.
The Toffees thought that they had levelled the scores in the 74th minute when Dominic Calvert-Lewin chested a Gray cross into the back of the net, but it was ruled out for offside, with Gray just past the final defender.
Idrissa Gueye fired one over the Man United crossbar in the period that followed, while both managers looked to their bench, with Fred, Alejandro Garnacho, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay all coming on for the 20-time English champions.
Rashford again tested the gloves of Pickford late on before De Gea kept out Gray down the other end, and the home side managed to survive some late pressure from Lampard’s side.
There was time for one more piece of drama, though, as Man United were awarded a penalty in stoppage time when Godfrey brought Garnacho to the ground, and Rashford stepped up to score a third for the hosts.
Man United will now switch their attention to the EFL Cup, with the Red Devils set to welcome Charlton Athletic to Old Trafford in the quarter-finals of the competition on Tuesday night.
Ten Hag’s side will then be back in Premier League action against Manchester City on January 14, while Everton’s next league game will be at home to basement side Southampton on the same afternoon.
