Manchester United beat Charlton Athletic 3-0 at Old Trafford on Tuesday night to advance to the Carabao Cup semi-final. Goals from Antony and Marcus Rashford (two) propelled the Red Devils past a lackluster Charlton club. The win was the team’s eighth consecutive win in all competitions.
Ten Hag made eight changes to the team that last played Everton in the FA Cup. Tom Heaten was given the starting goalkeeper job in his first appearance of the season. 17-year-old midfield prospect Kobbie Mainoo also made his senior debut for the club. The England youth international has recorded two goals and two assists in 11 Under-23 league games this season.
Antony opened the scoring for United in the 21st minute of the game. The $100 million winger fired a beautiful shot into the corner of the net from outside the box. It was quite similar to the great goal he scored against Manchester City earlier in the season.
Defender Diogo Dalot had to be substituted in the first half, but it did not appear to be a serious injury. In fact, the fullback even gave the ‘little’ sign with his thumb and forefinger as ten Hag approached him. Aaron Wan-Bissaka replaced the Portuguese international in the match.
Second-half substitutes propel United to Carabao Cup semi-final
Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford entered the fray on 60 minutes after Charlton had enjoyed a fine run on the ball. The substitutes seemed to put United back on top of the pitch. Facundo Pellistri also made his way into the match as well. The Uruguayan would mark his senior United debut with an assist just six minutes later.
Pellistri found Rashford in the middle of the box and the England international was not going to miss from there in his current form. Rashford carefully positioned the ball past the Charlton keeper for his sixth goal in successive games. It still wouldn’t be over.
Rashford can’t stop scoring
Rashford scored again in injury time. The double has been given by the striker since the World Cup ended. United will now have to play Newcastle, Nottingham Forest/Wolves or Southampton/Manchester City in the semi-finals.
However, the Red Devils face their toughest test in quite some time when they take on cross-town rivals City on Saturday in the Premier League.
PHOTO: IMAGO/PA Images
