Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford scored one goal each in the first and second halves to ensure our progression, with Erik ten Hag’s men returning to competitive action in the best possible way.
The Championship-leading visitors had chances to score throughout the 90 minutes, with Ashley Barnes and Manuel Benson both missing. In an unfamiliar center-back pairing, Casemiro and Victor Lindelof performed admirably, with fellow defender Aaron-Wan Bissaka also impressing in his first start of the season.
When Johann Gudmundsson’s cross was met by Ashley Barnes, who glanced his header wide of Martin Dubravka’s goal, the visitors created the first opening of the game.
With Burnley proving difficult to break down early on, Alejandro Garnacho’s pace in behind the Clarets backline on the left provided the Reds with a route to goal as the two sides worked out their differences. However, Erik ten Hag’s side found a way through with some excellent play on the opposite flank in the 27th minute. Bruno Fernandes’ brilliant cross to the right found Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who volleyed the ball across the six-yard box for Christian Eriksen to score the game’s first goal.
As Vincent Kompany’s men prepared to counter-attack, Manuel Benson burst forward. The 25-year-old cut inside Victor Lindelof, only to hit the side netting with his right foot. Benson found time and space to threaten again moments later, curling an effort that our Slovakian shot-stopper had to deal with.
As the first half came to a close, Anthony Martial created a clever opening. He twisted and turned in an attempt to find the correct angle, but Bailey Peacock-Farrell came to his rescue.
As the second half began, Fernandes picked out Rashford on the edge of the box, and our no.10 set up Scott McTominay to walk onto the ball and shoot, but his effort went wide. United, however, doubled their lead just 11 minutes after the break. Rashford received the ball inside his own half before charging towards the Clarets’ defence, sliding past Jordan Beyer to create space for himself to smash the ball past Peacock-Farrell and into the net.
With just over twenty minutes remaining, Burnley substitute Darko Churlinov received a pass from Johann Gudmundsson, but despite beating Wan-Bissaka to the ball, he could only prod his effort past the post. United were given another warning when Barnes rushed his effort inside the penalty area, leaving Ten Hag’s side two goals up.
Fernandes attempted to make it 3-0 with 15 minutes remaining by lining up a dangerous-looking free kick. His right-footed strike, however, was a little too high to put Peacock-Farrell to the test, flying into the Stretford goal. Gudmundsson was involved in arguably Burnley’s best chance of the game, when he squared the ball for Barnes to seemingly sweep home, only for the veteran forward to completely miss the mark.
Brandon Williams made his first competitive Reds appearance since May 2021, while Antony, Anthony Elanga, Fred, and Luke Shaw were also given minutes off the bench as Ten Hag’s men safely advanced to the competition’s last eight.
