MANCHESTER UNITED have reached the Carabao Cup final after beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 in their second leg (5-0 on aggregate).
Fred and Anthony Martial scored the goals in the second leg as the Red Devils cruised at Old Trafford.
The Carabao Cup final is on Sunday, February 26.
- Result: Man Utd 2-0 Nottingham Forest (5-0 agg)
- Man Utd XI: Heaton; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Fred, Casemiro; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Weghorst
- Nottingham Forest XI: Hennessey, Williams, McKenna, Boly, Lodi, Freuler, Scarpa, Mangala, Dennis, Johnson, Surridge
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Goodnight from Old Trafford
Twelve consecutive wins at home, back into the top four, and now in a Wembley final; Manchester United are truly back under Erik ten Hag.
This evening’s contest was little more than a formality following last week’s win at Nottingham Forest, but the Red Devils showed the required focus to finish the job with another victory.
The reward is a Carabao Cup Final against Newcastle United, bringing back memories of the 1990s when the two clubs went toe-to-toe.
As for Forest, they showed grit and willing to stay in the tie, but were ultimately outclassed – and now it’s back to the important matter: staying in the Premier League.
Thanks for joining us, and goodbye.
Pass master Bruno learnt from Quaresma
Bruno Fernandes put in a man of the match performance in midfield, and then afterwards paid tribute to his former mentor Ricardo Quaresma.
The Portuguese international helped create Manchester United’s second of the night with a wonderful cross with the outside of his foot, an execution he revealed he learnt from his compatriot.
I learned from [Ricardo] Quaresma. I had a great professor in Portugal. You have to learn from these players. You have to learn their tricks. You have to use them.
Bruno Fernandes
Erik praises professional performance
After reaching his first final as Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag praises his players for a professional and patient performance – although pointed out that they still needed to up the ante in the second period.
The first half wasn’t great to be honest. I thought it was professional, but too slow and we didn’t create too many chances. The second half was much better with more tempo. We were 3-0 up so I didn’t want to give them momentum early on. They were waiting for one chance to get into the game. We were searching for the gaps, but I think Forest played well, and were compact.
Erik ten Hag
Ten Hag restores fortress status
Old Trafford is a fortress once again.
With victory this evening, Manchester United extended their winning streak at the Theatre of Dreams to 12 games. It’s their best home run in more than a decade.
- Man Utd 2-0 Tottenham (PL, Oct 19)
- Man Utd 3-0 Sheriff (EL, Oct 27)
- Man Utd 1-0 West Ham (PL, Oct 30)
- Man Utd 4-2 Aston Villa (LC, Nov 10)
- Man Utd 2-0 Burnley (LC, Dec 21)
- Man Utd 3-0 Nott’m Forest (PL, Dec 27)
- Man Utd 3-0 Bournemouth (PL, Jan 3)
- Man Utd 3-1 Everton (FAC, Jan 6)
- Man Utd 3-0 Charlton (LC, Jan 10)
- Man Utd 2-1 Man City (PL, Jan 14)
- Man Utd 3-1 Reading (PL, Jan 28)
- Man Utd 2-0 Nott’m Forest (LC, Feb 1)
Credit: @OptaJoe Twitter Final showcases two best defences
With two clean sheets over the course of their semi-final with Nottingham Forest, Manchester United took the number of shutouts for the season to 16.
Only Newcastle – who they now face in the Carabao Cup Final on February 26 – have registered as many this season.
Credit: @OptaJoe Twitter Match stats from Old Trafford
The introduction of Martial, Rashford and Sancho in the second half saw Manchester United cut loose in the second half, leaving Forest trailing in every attacking area.
Full time – Man Utd 2-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 5-0)
It was never in doubt, but now it is official: Manchester United will play Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup Final on Sunday, February 26, at Wembley.
The job was all but done in the first leg, but sealed tonight in the second half by goals from Anthony Martial and Fred.
Man Utd 2-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 5-0)
90. The fourth official holds the board up to signal one minute of added time.
One minute before Manchester United officially book their place at Wembley.
One minute before Nottingham Forest are put out of their misery.
Man Utd 2-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 5-0)
89. Bruno Fernandes is awarded Sky Sports’ Man of the Match – which is probably just about right.
Man Utd 2-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 5-0) – Nott’m Forest substitutions
87. Steve Cooper takes the opportunity to introduce a couple of youngsters.
On comes 20-year-old midfielder Oliver Hammond along with 18-year-old striker Detlef Esapa Osong, who is making his debut.
The pair replace Sam Surridge and Gustavo Scarpa.
Man Utd 2-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 5-0)
86. Excellent play by United.
Martial and Sancho are both involved before Fernandes is sent to the touchline from where he rockets a shot across the face of goal.
Rashford in the middle isn’t happy, but it was another example of how quickly this United team can cut you open.
Man Utd 2-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 5-0)
84. Just a few minutes remain, and there is no doubt now that it will be Manchester United that face Newcastle in the League Cup final on February 26.
Man Utd 2-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 5-0)
82. A big opportunity for a Forest consolation.
Danilo gets away from United’s backline, and strikes powerfully towards Heaton.
The stand-in United stopper does very well to turn the effort away, but it lands directly into the path of Surridge, who should score.
Unfortunately for the rangy striker, he lifts his return volley over the crossbar.
Man Utd 2-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 5-0) – Man Utd substitutions
80. Two final changes for United, and it’s a change in the heart of defence.
On comes Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, off go Casemiro and Raphael Varane.
Man Utd 2-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 5-0)
78. It’s the Manchester United fans that you can hear now, and Erik ten Hag is just 90 minutes away from silverware in his first season at Old Trafford.
Man Utd 2-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 5-0)
76. The floodgates open and Fred gets in on the act!
Manchester United are looking sharper with every passing minute, and Nottingham Forest are wilting away.
On this occasion, not one player in yellow tracked Marcus Rashford’s run to the back post as he collected Bruno Fernandes’ fabulous cross, and the England international had the simplest job in squaring for Fred to turn in with his thigh.
And another!
Man Utd 1-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 4-0)
73. Anthony Martial seals Manchester United’s trip to Wembley!
The triple change from Erik ten Hag has given the hosts’ extra intent, and they’ve finally made their dominance pay.
Nottingham Forest fail to live with the attacking flair of United, and when one substitute – Marcus Rashford – is denied by an excellent Scott McKenna tackle, another in Martial follows up to turn past Wayne Hennessey.
Job done!
Man Utd 0-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 3-0)
72. Man Utd fans start to sing about going to Wembley.
Although it’s worth pointing out that they haven’t had to make that train trip since Avanti West Coast won the contract.
Good luck, guys!
Man Utd 0-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 3-0)
70. Fernandes flashes a shot wide of the near post after a neat lay back from Sancho, but it wouldn’t have counted as the flag was up for offside.
Man Utd 0-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 3-0) – Casemiro yellow card
68. A booking for Casemiro.
It’s perhaps unfortunate for the Brazilian in so much as he slips when approaching Dennis, but he undoubtedly takes him out as he goes to ground.
Man Utd 0-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 3-0)
66. United are turning to turn the screw.
First, Casemiro forces Hennessey into making a save, and then Rashford comes close to mopping up after a Martial shot is blocked.
Man Utd 0-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 3-0) – Nott’m Forest substitutions
64. Steve Cooper decides that anything Erik ten Hag can do, so can he – as long as it’s a triple substitution.
The Welshman brings on Alex Mighten, Serge Aurier and Danilo in place of Brennan Johnson, Renan Lodi and Remo Freuler.
Man Utd 0-0 Nott’m Forest (Agg: 3-0) – Man Utd substitutions
62, Well, this isn’t a bad trio to have up your sleeve.
Erik ten Hag introduces Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, and – for the first time since October 22 – Jadon Sancho to huge cheers.
Off go Wout Weghorst, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
