Marcus Rashford helped Manchester United beat Burnley to book a place in the Carabao Cup Quarterfinal.
Erik ten Hag can relax if this is what a World Cup hangover looks like as his team successfully punish a Burnley side that is not a pushover.
Under Vincent Kompany, United defeated a team that was on track to quickly return to the Premier League, after they failed to take advantage of their chances late in the game.
But class cannot be replaced, as evidenced by the large number of World Cup stars in Ten Hag’s team.
Christian Eriksen scored United’s opening goal with precision after Bruno Fernandes’ fantastic pass. The goal from Marcus Rashford afterwards gave us another illustration of the buoyant confidence England has been displaying lately.
When Rashford received the ball in the 57th minute, he was well inside his own half. His initial reaction was to charge directly toward the Burnley goal while swerving in both directions.
As he backpedaled toward goal, Jordan Beyer attempted to keep up with Marcus Rashford, but the Englishman snuck between the German and Josh Cullen and rifled the ball past Bailey Peacock-Farrell and into the far corner.
This is United’s first game after the Glazer family essentially put the club up for sale and the United’s first game after the World Cup coincided with Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Old Trafford, however neither event received any attention in the match program or Ten Hag’s column.
There is almost never a calm second at United even during the winter World Cup.
In their first post-World Cup game, Manchester United easily defeated Burnley 2-0 to advance to the EFL Cup quarterfinals.
Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford’s goals made the difference as the Red Devils pushed for their first title since 2017 in this game.
Darko Churlinov had a golden opportunity to reignite the game, but the substitute’s strike was stopped by Dubravka and the post as United played out the clock to advance to the quarterfinals.
Blackburn Thrashed By Nottingham Forest 4-1
Brennan Johnson’s outstanding performance at Ewood Park helped Nottingham Forest defeat Blackburn and advanced to the Carabao Cup quarterfinals.
From the spot, the attacker gave the visitors the lead, but Scott Wharton gave Blackburn the equalizer just before halftime.
Before Taiwo Awoniyi’s goal made it three, Forest’s advantage was restored by Jesse Lingard’s deflected free kick.
Johnson added a second goal late to cap off an outstanding performance.
Blackburn manager Jon Dahl Tomasson made 11 changes from the team that defeated Norwich City on Saturday; as a result, the Championship promotion contenders, who are presently third in the second division, found it difficult to control Forest, and notably Johnson.
The forward, one of three World Cup players chosen to start for Forest, who participated in all three of Wales’ matches in Qatar, gained the penalty in the 12th minute by drawing a foul from Wharton and then kicking Aynsley Pears the wrong way from the spot.
Despite having 16 shots in the opening period, Forest was unable to increase its advantage. Just before the break, Wharton headed in a free-kick that his younger brother Adam had taken.
After the break, though, Steve Cooper’s Premier League team kept up its impetus and regained the lead when Lingard’s free-kick took two deflections before going past Pears.
After receiving a sharp ball from Lingard, Awoniyi advanced Forest forward before calmly scoring beyond Pears, who had made a number of excellent saves to keep the score manageable.
In stoppage time, Johnson sealed the victory by firing a low shot past Pears from just inside the box.
With a win, Forest is guaranteed a spot in Thursday night’s EFL Cup quarterfinal draw.
Charlton Wins On Penalty Against Brighton
League One underachievers after a scoreless draw at The Valley, Charlton upset Brighton by defeating them on penalties to advance to the Carabao Cup quarterfinals.
Sam Lavelle made the game-winning penalty after Ashley Maynard-Brewer of the Addicks stopped Moises Caicedo’s attempt, sending Charlton into the round of 16 by a score of 4-3 on penalties following a scoreless draw.
