BRAZIL’S BOYS SEE UNITED THROUGH

Casemiro double and Fred’s flick ends Royals resistance

OLD Trafford was treated to a slice of samba as Brazilians Casemiro and Fred ended Championship Reading’s stubborn resistance in the FA Cup fourth round last night.

Casemiro struck twice in four minutes early in the second half before compatriot Fred got in the act to put the tie to bed.

Reading, managed by former United star Paul Ince, had striker Andy Carroll dismissed for a late challenge on Casemiro but did manage a consolation goal from substitute Amadou Mbengue.

History and form suggested a home win here at Old Trafford. The only time Reading beat Manchester United was back in 1927 and Erik ten Hag’s team are still fighting in four competitions while the Royals are 16th in the Championship after a 4-0 defeat at Stoke last weekend.

Reading manager Paul Ince, who won two FA Cups as a United player, received a decent welcome from the home fans as he walked out alongside Ten Hag’s assistant Steve McClaren, who also used to be his manager at Middlesbrough.

Ince made two changes to his last starting line-up — former England striker Carroll and Lucas Joao coming in — and United also went strong, with Victor Lindelof the only addition to the midweek Carabao Cup semi-final first leg win at Nottingham Forest, the Swede replacing Lisandro Martinez.

Despite Ten Hag reporting that Jadon Sancho was close to playing his first game since October after working on his physical and mental fitness, the England winger was not in the 18.

With Reading’s three thousand fans in good voice, Casemiro’s early hack on Jeff Hendrick indicated this would be a proper cup tie under the lights. United had the game’s first chances, falling to Christian Eriksen and Wout Weghorst and Reading goalkeeper Joe Lumley was forced into his first save after 14 minutes when Tom Holmes was late on Weghorst and Marcus Rashford thundered in the free-kick.

From the follow-up, Royals skipper Andy Yiadom bravely blocked a shot by Eriksen and the underdogs goal remained intact.

The next important interception came from Holmes who slid in to divert Weghorst’s turn and shot over the bar.

Rashford had scored in his previous nine games at Old Trafford and you could see his confidence every time he was on the ball. One sprint behind the Reading defence would have seen him clean through without an acrobatic clearance by the alert Yiadom. Holmes then put his body in the way of an Eriksen piledriver as Ince’s men defended courageously.

The visiting fans also had a good chuckle at Weghorst’s mishit shot after 27 minutes, singing at him ‘You’re just a s*** Andy Carroll’.

United reached the half-hour mark boasting 84 per cent possession but still didn’t have a goal to show for their domination. Antony’s trickery down the right flank enabled Fernandes a chance to shoot but his effort angled away from the far post.

Though United should complete a two-legged semi-final win against Forest on Wednesday night to reach Wembley, the FA Cup is still important with no trophy seen at Old Trafford since 2017.

They thought they’d taken the lead when Rashford headed in Weghorst’s flick-on after 35 minutes but the striker’s hope of setting a club record of scoring for the 10th consecutive home game were dashed when VAR spotted Weghorst had strayed into an offside position earlier in the move.

At least the noise that accompanied Rashford’s header crossing the line would have jolted Sir Alex Ferguson who TV replays appeared to catch closing his eyes during a quieter period of the game.

United made a strong penalty appeal when Junior Hoilett’s clumsy challenge on Casemiro caught the back of the Brazilian’s right boot. They had a case but neither referee Darren England nor VAR considered it clear enough to award.

And then having had virtually no play in the final third, Reading almost stole the lead in first-half injury time.

Tyrell Malacia attempted to chest the ball down facing his own goal and didn’t spot Hoilett lurking behind. The Canadian stole the ball and had an instant shot parried by David de Gea as Ince jumped up in the technical area anticipating a goal.

Having survived their scare at the end of the first half, United upped their game and made a double breakthrough before the hour mark, both times from Casemiro.

His first after 54 minutes followed a neat move in which Eriksen switched play to Antony on the right-hand side and the Brazilian winger slipped a pass into his compatriot’s path that Casemiro finished in style from eight yards.

The second four minutes later was from further out and had a touch of samba about it. Fred, another Brazilian, fed his World Cup team-mate 25 yards from goal and the strike with the outside of his right foot might have beaten Lumley in goal even without the additional glance off Holmes’ head.

Casemiro’s intervention was too much for Carroll who slid in out of control and caught the midfielder after 64 minutes to receive a red card. Carroll, 34, apologised to Casemiro, seeming to blame a slippery pitch, but the referee had no sympathy.

United were now in ruthless mode and converted a third when Fred flicked home Fernandes’ cross from close range.

It was the signal for Ten Hag to substitute Rashford, with the forward disappointed that he was unable to set a club record of tenin-a-row at home.

The travelling Reading fans had their moment of celebration after 72 minutes when Tom Ince’s outswinging corner was met by the head of substitute Mbengue to make the score 3-1.