MAN UTD 3, COLCHESTER UTD 0
A mouth-watering Carabao Cup semi-final against their arch rivals is Manchester United’s reward for beating Colchester United in the last eight at Old Trafford.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe great adventure of the U’s, ninth in Sky Bet League Two, in the League Cup came to an end after they failed to claim a third Premier League scalp – they had already knocked out Crystal Palace and Tottenham.
After a lacklustre goalless opening half, the U’s must have dreamt of another success on the club’s first-ever visit to Old Trafford.
But it became a nightmare after the restart as the Reds scored three goals in 10 minutes from Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and a Ryan Jackson own goal and had victory secured just after the hour.
It was a game similar to the Europa League game against AZ Alkmaar the previous week when, after a turgid goalless opening half, they blitzed the Dutch side with four goals in nine minutes.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer described United’s first-half display as “wasteful”.
He said: “We have to be more clinical and be more ruthless. If we do that, it will be another step forward. We have to develop that quality in the box.
“There is a hunger and the players do extras in training – we had to hold Marcus back yesterday as he wanted to do more.”
Solskjaer knew it would be difficult as Colchester had kept clean sheets against Palace and Spurs.
And the game marked Solskjaer’s first anniversary as manager.
Looking at United’s progress, he said: “We are in a good place and have the momentum. If you take away the Astana game, we have won six and drawn three games and scored lots of goals.
“We are on the right track and hopefully we can keep on improving.
“If you look at the table and points, we are similar to last season, but the decision was taken to rebuild and we have the youngest squad in the Premier League.”
Solskjaer added there will be “fantastic days in Manchester” with the two semi-final games against City.
He said: “We respect them. In my opinion they are the best team in England and we must get our game heads on and be ready.
“We showed we can cause them problems (United won at City in the recent derby) and they will be two wonderful games.”
U’s manager John McGreal described it as a “wonderful journey” for the club to reach the quarter finals.
“I am very proud of my boys for the application and attitude. From where we have come, it has been a brilliant achievement.”
McGreal admitted to being surprised when he saw United’s team sheet.
He said: “I expected one or two more young players. When I saw it, I knew it was big football coming to Manchester United.
“We stuck to our game plan and frustrated them in the first half, but some of their one-twos and passing was extraordinary.”
United retained strike pair Rashford and Martial, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw from the side held by Everton on Sunday.
It was an experienced side, though it included youngsters Mason Greenwood and Axel Tuanzebe.
Colchester’s side included let-back Cohen Bramall who once played non-league football not far away at Sandbach United.
It was a lukewarm start from Solskjaer’s side, though Rashford had two early chances.
First a free kick was fumbled by goalkeeper Dean Gerken and that was followed by a drive which narrowly cleared the crossbar.
Colchester, with a vast 6,000 travelling from Essex for this midweek cup-tie, successfully negotiated the opening 20 minutes.
Rashford had further chances but was let down by a woeful touch on two occasions and also saw a shot so wayward it went out for a throw in as the pace of United’s play was pedestrian and lacking intensity and energy.
Colchester almost snatched a 44th minute lead with their first goal attempt of the game as Callum Harriott shot narrowly wide from outside the penalty area.
Martial went close in stoppage time as his drive from 30 yards dipped just over the bar.
United finally made the breakthrough in the 51st minute on the break after the U’s Jackson forced a first save of the game from Sergio Romero.
The Argentine goalkeeper rolled out the ball to Nemanja Matic who sprayed a 40 yard pass to Rashford who cut in from the left past four players before firing high into the net from almost on the penalty spot.
It was Rashford’s 14th goal of the season in all competitions, his best-ever tally for a season and it has been achieved in less than half the campaign.
United’s second goal five minutes later came about in almost identical circumstances.
The U’s Bramall shot wide and United immediately broke away to score as Greenwood’s cross from the right was put into his own goal by Jackson at the far post as Rashford was lurking behind him and ready to pounce.
United added a third goal in 10 minutes when Martial struck.
Matic’s excellent diagonal pass released Rashford on the left and he square the ball across goal for Martial, sliding in at the far post, converted from a couple of yards.
The third goal was followed by an immediate double change by Solskjaer as Rashford and Luke Shaw made way for Brandon Williams and Jesse Lingard and not long after Tuanzebe was replaced by James Garner.
United almost added a fourth goal six minutes from time when Maguire’s header from Mata’s corner was superbly turned over by Gerken, but by then it was a case of job already done.