Manchester United advanced to the Carabao Cup quarterfinals with a 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic. In the first half, Erik ten Hag’s team took the lead thanks to Antony’s unstoppable curling effort. However, a late brace from substitute Marcus Rashford would seal the win for the Reds and continue his fine goalscoring form.
The victory puts us back Into the competition’s two-legged semi-finals, with a place at Wembley on the line.Ten Hag’s Reds dominated the first 45 minutes in front of the Old Trafford faithful.
Alejandro Garnacho, who started on the left for United, made an immediate impression on the Charlton defence. Two minutes in, the Argentina Under-20 international came close to scoring, but Diogo Dalot hit his cross into the box well over the bar.
The 18-year-old was at the heart of our first-half attack and came close to scoring after great play down the left saw him cut inside, but his curling effort was off target.Fans would have to wait only 21 minutes for the player with that number to break the tie. Antony received the ball on the edge of the area from Fred before unleashing a fantastic curling effort on goal that sailed past a diving Ashley Maynard-Brewer to give us a commanding lead.
Just over 10 minutes later, the Reds were nearly two goals up thanks to a free-kick from Fred. The Brazilian midfielder came agonisingly close to scoring but for the intervention of the woodwork. Charlton had their own free-kick just outside the box moments later, but Albie Morgan couldn’t hit the target.
The Reds poured forward in search of a second goal, but we went into halftime with a narrow lead. Chasing the game, Charlton came out in the second half looking for a leveller – and immediately created a scoring chance. Scott Fraser’s long-range effort came as a result of some intricate play, but it didn’t trouble Tom Heaton in the United goal.
However, five minutes into the second half, the Reds were on the verge of doubling our lead. Fred played an excellent diagonal ball to first-half substitute Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who played it across goal to Anthony Elanga, who scored a tap-in but it was chalked off for offside.
Garnacho had a chance to double our lead with 25 minutes remaining after a sublime through ball from Scott McTominay, but the Charlton shot-stopper read the situation well and comfortably saved his effort. We continued to create chances to end the game, one of which fell to Christian Eriksen. The Danish midfielder zipped his effort towards Maynard-goal, Brewer’s where he made a stunning save after seeing it late.
But our patience would soon be rewarded. Casemiro’s incredible cross-field pass into the path of Facundo Pellistri sparked the goal-scoring move, with the latter – making his competitive debut – playing through Rashford.Our number 10 needed a few touches to find his feet before finishing the move and scoring for the sixth time since the restart.
Rashford added another to our tally after being found by Casemiro deep into stoppage time. When put through on goal, he calmly eased the ball past the Charlton keeper to add gloss to the score line.
