MAN UTD 4, ASTON VILLA 2
Manchester United’s stirring display in the last quarter of the match saw them battle from behind to defeat Aston Villa and claim a last 16 place in the Carabao Cup.
The Reds were 2-1 and appeared to he heading out of the competition until they staged a remarkable turnout in their fortunes.
Goals from Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay turned a deficit into a comfortable victory at the end.
And the riveting second half was a contrast to the opening period when effectively nothing happened.
The second half was a polar opposite as Ollie Watkins put Villa ahead, Anthony Martial equalised before a Diogo Dalot own goal put the visitors back in front.
United, reinvigorated by a raft of substitutions, displayed character and a never-say-die spirit to snatch victory in a second period which will live long in the memory.
United manager Erik ten Hag reflected: “The fighting spirit was back. You cannot accept it when you get beaten like we did on Sunday.
“You saw the reaction tonight when we came back twice after falling behind. You could see we have made progress in our mentality and character and we are moving in the right direction.
“Our two halves are never the same. We controlled the game in the first half by good pressing, we won a lot of possession 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, we are happy tonight.
“They [Aston Villa] play with a high line so you have to pass the ball behind, and we were quite successful in the second half. The problem in the first half was that we had too many touches and missed the moment that’s why we brought Christian Eriksen on.
“Happy with that resilience. That’s what we need and have to show every game, I was so disappointed and mad on Sunday because we didn’t fight. We were sloppy, especially in the defence and United players always have to show 100 per cent discipline.”
And of the season so far, ten Hag said: “We have to play football at a high intensity because that’s what the top teams do.
“We have made a step in the right direction, but we have to find the moments to get more composure on the ball and find the moments where we can speed up. We are in the right direction but still a long way to go.”
Embed from Getty ImagesRashford said: “It was a game of two halves. First half it was not great in possession, so it was similar to the other day. The second half we played with a lot more confidence.
“They hold a high line, no defender likes to run backwards – it’s pretty simple, we want to get in behind them. Both times we went behind we responded quickly, and it is a massive shift in energy.
“Balls diagonally from full backs or from the middle to wide positions are always on, the second half we managed to time our runs a bit better.
“My aim is to enjoy my football, and at the moment I am. If I am scoring goals and winning, then I am happy. I would say I am more comfortable on the wing, back to goal I need to improve a lot on that.”
On making England’s World Cup squad, Rashford added: “It was just this morning [when he found out]. If you are performing at United, then England will be round the corner. It will be a massive month for us, I am looking forward to that.”
Ten Hag made seven changes from the side which lost 3-1 to Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.
In came Martin Dubravka, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, McTominay, Fred, Bruno Fernandes and Martial.
It was a competitive United debut for goalkeeper Dubravka, on loan from Newcastle, while Martial made his first start in almost a month after an Achilles injury.
Big-hitters David De Gea, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen were on the bench, but Cristiano Ronaldo was absent through illness and Antony due to injury.
Villa also made seven changes following their victory with Ezri Konsa, Douglas Luiz, Jacob Ramsey and Ollie Watkins the only players to remain from Sunday’s win.
After an uneventful opening half hour, there was a flicker of excitement as Douglas Luiz’s inswinging corner was headed off the line by McTominay.
That was quickly followed by a volley from Ashley Young, the former United player, which narrowly cleared the crossbar, again from a Luiz corner which was headed clear.
The only on-target goal attempt of the forgettable half came in stoppage time, a free kick from Fernandes which went straight to keeper Robin Olsen. Surely the second half had to improve.
It certainly did as there were two goals in the opening five eventful minutes
Villa made the breakthrough in the 48th minute when Jacob Ramsey’s brilliant diagonal through ball released Watkins who raced clear to dink a shot over the advancing Dubravka, his third goal of the season.
United claimed a handball in the build-up, but there was no VAR in operation.
Ninety-one seconds later and the Reds were level. A long forward pass by Diogo Dalot released Fernandes who went racing down the right and crossed for Martial to have an easy finish at the far post for his fourth goal of the season.
Villa regained the lead just after the hour.
Young’s cross to the far post was headed back across the face of goal by Leon Bailey only to ricochet into the net off the unlucky Dalot.
United’s response was to immediately bring on three substitutes as Eriksen, Anthony Elanga and Alejandro Garnacho replaced Martial, Fred and Donny van de Beek.
Rashford had a great chance to equalise but blazed wide after running on to Tyrell Malacia’s through ball.
But undaunted by the glaring miss, Rashford made it 2-2 mid-half with his eighth goal of the season.
Malacia’s long ball was headed on by Rashford towards Eriksen. Mings slipped enabling Rashford to profit as he found the net from six yards.
United, suddenly with momentum and with the crowd suddenly awakening, went out in pursuit of a third goal.
Olsen made a brilliant save low to his left to deny Fernandes and then fist Maguire’s bullet header to safety.
The third goal arrived 12 minutes from time after a poor clearance from Olsen was intercepted by Garnacho who fed Fernandes whose shot ricocheted off Mings high into the net, his fourth goal of the campaign and his sixth in seven games against Villa.
Ten Hag brought on Casemiro for Rashford to provide a calming influence in midfield while the last change was the introduction of Martinez for Victor Lindelof.
And McTominay almost put the icing on the cake with a delightful bent shot from the edge of the box which crashed against the bar.
But McTominay was not to be denied as he added the match sealing fourth goal in the first of four added minutes.
The Scot sprinted on to Garnacho’s long cross from the left and stretched to divert the ball low past Olsen, reward for his tenacity as he scored a third of the season.
And there was almost a fifth with the last action of the game when Fernandes’ free kick was tipped over by Olsen.