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Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford (Getty)
United manchester will face bitter rivals Manchester city in the semi-finals of the League Cup following a spectacular 2-0 win at Everton, while Tottenham joined them in the quarter-finals with a victory over Stoke on Wednesday.
United dominated for long stretches of the quarter-finals at Goodison Park, but it took until the 88th minute before Edinson Cavani broke the deadlock.
The former Paris Saint-Germain forward’s fourth goal for United since joining on a free transfer in October came at the same place where he opened his account for the club last month.
Anthony Martial scored United’s second goal in injury time.
“Cavani’s finish was not bad! He is a quality striker. We know that when we defend well we have players to win the game,” United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said.
“The spirit in the camp is good and this will give us a boost for the Christmas period.”
After a difficult period that raised doubts about Solskjaer’s future after his departure from the Champions League, United have regained their balance.
He is third in the Premier League and has won his last three matches in all competitions.
United last lifted the silver medal when they won the Europa League in 2017.
Solskjaer, who won nine major trophies as a player with United, took over at Old Trafford in 2018 and saw his team lose in three semi-finals last season.
He now has a chance to improve this season after United met champion City in the last four.
United were beaten by City at the same stage of the competition last season and Solskjaer said: “We are in the semi-finals so we are one step away.”
“It is the worst game to lose, a semi-final. We are going to do everything we can to get to that game in good shape.”
Tottenham and second-tier Brentford will meet in the other semi-final, with matches played on one stage in the week beginning January 4.
Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes were the only United players to keep their places after Leeds’ 6-2 win at the weekend, with Paul Pogba returning to the starting lineup.
Just two minutes from the end of the penalty shoot-out, Martial slipped a pass to Cavani, who with a magnificent shot passed Everton goalkeeper Robin Olsen from the edge of the area.
Martial then got home with practically the last kick.
Cavani’s goal came after he had thrown a hand in Yerry Mina’s face earlier in the match, but there was no VAR available to potentially punish him.
Everton coach Carlo Ancelotti said: “The rules were that VAR was not in this game, if the referee decided that Cavani had done nothing wrong, we have to accept it. Final point.”
José Mourinho accused Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli of creating “problems” for his own team during the 3-1 win at Stoke.
Wales striker Gareth Bale took advantage of an unusual start to put Mourinho’s team ahead at Bet365 Stadium.
But Alli was to blame when his extravagant move was intercepted in preparation for Jordan Thompson’s draw for Stoke.
Alli’s latest mistake prompted an angry response from Mourinho’s side, who rebuked the star before replacing him minutes later.
Ben Davies put Tottenham in front with his first goal since 2017 before England captain Harry Kane sealed the Spurs’ spot in the semi-finals.
But it was Alli’s public reprimand that drew attention, with the English international’s miserable season hitting a new low in his first start since Nov. 26.
“Yes, for me a player who plays in that position is a player who has to bond and create and not create problems for his own team,” said Mourinho, who has exiled Alli for long periods this season amid talks about a transfer to Paris Saint Germain.
“In that situation, an objective counter would probably end with a goal, and it ended with a counter behind our defenders. So yeah, I’m upset.”
