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Late goals from Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial sent Man Utd to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park.
Man Utd seemed to have wasted his chance after flying off the blocks in the first half, just as he did when demolishing Leeds, but this time the goals did not flow.
However, Everton had weathered the storm and the game seemed to wind its way to penalties. That was until Cavani, who had been cheering all night, produced an angled clinical shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 88th minute.
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What made matters worse was that the forward was probably lucky to stay on the field after raising his hands in a second-half altercation with Yerry Mina.
Substitute Martial secured a 16th appearance in the semi-final at the Man Utd competition with the last kick of the match, as Everton chased the tie.
Nine changes did not appear to interrupt United’s flow as they overwhelmed an Everton in form.
That meant that for the first time United played Donny Van De Beek, Paul Pogba and Fernandes on the same team, but it seemed like a tactic that would pay dividends as the home team barely had a kick in the first half hour.
If they weren’t panicking in possession, they held on to their fingernails as United got off to the same pace that had seen them hit Leeds with a devastating early showing.
It was very out of place for a team that had conceded just once by racking up three wins in a row, but it highlighted just how good United were.
Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had said they were “ desperate ” to end a trophy drought dating back to 2017 and their opening game showed that desire.
At times it seemed like they were trading three numbers out of ten as Van De Beek, Fernandes and Mason Greenwood rotated positions in space just outside the penalty area. Cavani was given license to roam wherever he wanted.
Cavani was rejected three times by Robin Olsen, and the Swede made a clever double save. It almost made Carlo Ancelotti regret his decision to let Jordan Pickford rest, as his lack of control nearly gave the striker a goal.
Greenwood’s crouched header brushed the base of the far post as United lunged at their hosts, doing everything but scoring.
Somehow Everton weathered the storm and Gylfi Sigurdsson forced Dean Henderson to deflect his free kick in the latter stages of the half as the hosts entered the break feeling they had some kind of escape.
There was a fiery start to the second half with Cavani appearing to grab Mina by the neck as they battled in the center circle, so referee Andrew Madley took no action with VAR only available in the semi-finals.
Then Everton medical staff had to physically intervene with Richarlison on the touchline, insisting that concussion protocols must be followed, as the forward was determined to return to action even though he appeared to have received a heavy blow to the head after being intercepted by Eric Bailly and Fernandes.
Solskjaer’s decision to make so many changes meant he was able to call out Marcus Rashford and Martial for the final 25 minutes.
Everton shook their four backs and put substitute Tom Davies on Fernandes who seemed to have slowed the flow but with an imminent penalty shootout, a quality moment from Cavani changed everything and Martial’s goal made him salivate in the wound.
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