Juan Mata sends Manchester United through FA Cup fourth round

LONDON: Juan Mata sent Manchester United into the FA Cup fourth round with a neat dinked finish in the 67th minute to secure a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in their replay at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Mata was played clean through by Anthony Martial and calmly chipped goalkeeper John Ruddy for the only goal against Wolves who knocked United out of last season’s FA Cup and had a 10th-minute effort ruled out by VAR.

The first match at Molineux between the teams, both in the last 32 of the Europa League and with plenty of tired legs, had ended goalless with United failing to land a single shot on target.

United’s celebrations were muted, however, by an injury to their top scorer Marcus Rashford who came on as a second-half substitute for Daniel James and played only 16 minutes before limping off injured.

In the night’s other replay, Cardiff City beat fourth-tier strugglers Carlisle United 4-3 in a livelier game to set up an all-Championship (second tier) clash with Reading in the fourth round.

United will next play either Premier League rivals Watford, last year’s runners-up, or third-tier Tranmere Rovers whose replay on Tuesday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Prenton Park.

Solskjaer’s side was let off the hook after 10 minutes when a VAR review showed the ball had bounced off Raul Jimenez’s hand before Portuguese teenager Pedro Neto scored for Wolves. Agencies

Also Read: Premier League: Manchester United rout Norwich City

Also Watch: Watch Bhogali Bihu preparation from Jajori in Batadrava under Nagaon District