Manchester United have one foot in the Carabao Cup final thanks to a 3-0 away win against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. The two teams will meet again in a week to decide who will face Newcastle or Southampton for the first trophy of the season.
Despite being in the bottom half of the Premier League table, Forest have been very solid at home. In fact, they had not lost a game at the City Ground since September going into Wednesday. Forest previously beat Liverpool and finished level with Chelsea during this leg. However, this changed on Wednesday night.
Rashford’s hot run rolls as United beat Forest in Carabao Cup
Marcus Rashford continued his good form with a goal six minutes into the game. The England international picked up the ball in his own half, dribbled through the Forest defense and emphatically fired a shot past Wayne Hennessey. As impressive as the race was, the hosts were very hospitable. However, it was Rashford’s tenth goal in as many games since the World Cup ended.
Forest thought they leveled the score some 15 minutes later. Morgan Gibbs-White slipped a pass to Sam Surridge, who perfectly homed in a shot from David de Gea. However, the striker was inches offside when he received the ball from Gibbs-White. The goal was annulled after a VAR intervention.
The Dutchman scores the club’s first goal
Wout Weghorst then on the verge of halftime. The Dutch international pounced on a loose ball in the box to score his first goal for the club. Antony sent a powerful shot straight to Hennessey and Weghorst was the quickest to react to the rebound.
After a dull second half that United blocked, Bruno Fernandes ended the game with an 89th-minute goal. Substitute Anthony Elanga found the midfielder above the box and Fernandes finished. It was the sixth goal for the Portuguese international this season.
United will now just need to keep Forest in check at Old Trafford to reach the Carabao Cup final in February.
PHOTO: IMAGO/PA Images
