Manchester United twice came from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-2 and advance to last-16 of the English League Cup, a day after several other big teams were eliminated.
After a slow opening 45 minutes on Thursday, the game came alive after the break with all six goals scored in the second half. United forward Anthony Martial canceled out Ollie Watkins’ opener within seconds, then Marcus Rashford struck after Diogo Dalot’s own goal had put the visitors back in front.
Bruno Fernandes then put United ahead in the 78th minute before Scott McTominay added a fourth in stoppage time, with both goals set up by teenager Alejandro Garnacho after he had come off the bench.
“Our two halves are never the same,” United manager Erik ten Hag said.
“We controlled the game in the first half by good pressing but then did the wrong things. ... At half-time we said keep the pressing but be more direct. I’m proud of the team we could do that.”
The result saw United exact some revenge for Sunday’s 3-1 Premier League loss in Villa manager Unai Emery’s first game in charge. It also boosts Ten Hag’s chances of winning a trophy in his first season at United, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham having all been eliminated.
In addition, Liverpool and Manchester City were drawn to face each other in the next round. Man United will play Burnley at home, while Newcastle welcome Bournemouth.
At Old Trafford, both managers made seven changes from Sunday, with Harry Maguire taking the captain’s armband for United while there was a debut in goal for Martin Dubravka. Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain on Sunday, was not in the squad due to illness.
La Liga: Kroos control on chilly night
Madrid: Toni Kroos scored a goal and set up one for Eder Militao as Real Madrid beat Cadiz 2-1 on Thursday in their last La Liga match before the World Cup break.
The champions returned to winning ways after losing 3-2 to Rayo Vallecano on Monday, their first league defeat of the season, and are second in the standings on 35 points, two behind leaders Barcelona.
There was an end-of-theseason feel on a chilly night at Santiago Bernabeu with the World Cup starting in less then two weeks and the game was not a classic. Cadiz were in ultra-defensive mode and Real struggled to break them down.
Cadiz nearly took a shock lead when defender Alfonso Espino fired a long-range shot that clipped the bar before going over. Real opened the scoring in the 40th minute when Kroos delivered a perfect deep cross from a short corner that found Militao who headed into the net.
Reuters