Manchester United will go into the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final with a huge advantage after defeating Nottingham Forest 3-0 at The City Ground.
Marcus Rashford scored a superb solo effort just five minutes into the game, before Sam Surridge almost levelled the score on a quick counter attack, only to have his effort ruled out for offside.
Wout Weghorst then scored his first goal for the Reds just before the halftime break, netting from the rebound after Antony’s shot was saved.With just two minutes remaining in the first leg, United captain Bruno Fernandes made it 3-0 with a first-time strike.
United made a strong start to the game, with numerous forward runs. The best of those came from the game’s in-form Marcus Rashford, who scored just five minutes in. After latching onto a pass from Casemiro, the Reds’ leading scorer darted down the left flank. United’s number 10 skipped into the area and beat Wayne Hennessey at his near post with his weaker left foot after taking on and beating Joe Worrell and Remo Freuler.
Erik ten Hag’s men came dangerously close to doubling their lead when Antony was given two chances to take the ball on his left foot and curl it past Hennessey. Every attempt sailed wide of the far post. Forest then found their groove and came dangerously close to tying the game. Morgan Gibbs-White found himself in a lot of space and picked out Sam Surridge’s run, whose first-time effort beat David De Gea at his far post. However, the forward’s foot was on the wrong side of Lisandro Martinez, and the goal was ruled out for offside by VAR.
United’s search for a second goal paid off just before halftime. Casemiro was the driving force behind the attack once again, this time with a brilliant pass to Antony. Wout Weghorst doubled the lead with a poacher’s goal, his first in a United shirt, after the Brazilian wing wizard made a great run into the area and forced a brilliant save from Hennessey.
At the start of the second half, United came under heavy pressure from Steve Cooper’s side, but Ten Hag’s men weathered the storm and broke away, with Antony finding Christian Eriksen on the edge of the box. The Danish international attempted a curling shot that ricocheted off the crossbar and was cleared away by the Forest defence.
Did this vs Arsenal and again vs Nottingham Forest while still nursing a head injury.
Lisandro Martinez wasn't joking when he said he'd step on bodies to help Manchester United win. BEAST!!! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9BKC6OtIxO
— UtdFaithfuls (@UtdFaithfuls) January 25, 2023
Ten Hag made his first substitution of the game just 10 minutes into the half, replacing Rashford, who was feeling his ribs after a clash with the Forest backline. The first goal scorer was replaced by Alejandro Garnacho, who nearly made an impact by finding Eriksen on the left wing. The Dane whipped a cross at Weghorst.
Forest looked to cut the deficit when substitute Nico Williams got the better of Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the left side and crossed, but former United winger Jesse Lingard was unable to convert.
With substitute Facundo Pellistri making a quick run down the right wing and firing a wicked cross towards Weghorst, the Reds looked comfortable towards the end of the game but were still looking for a third goal. The resulting header from the Dutchman just missed the target. Fernandes launched a counter-attack in the final minutes of the game, attempting to find Anthony Elanga or Pellistri, but the ball was cleared by the Forest defence. But Bruno refused to give up. He strode into the area and struck the ball first time past Hennessey to score his sixth goal of the season, increasing United’s lead to 3-0 heading into the second leg next week at Old Trafford.
