Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to rest several first-team players was justified as the Premiership challengers narrowly edged past Reading 3-2 to earn themselves a place in the FA Cup quarterfinals.
Mindful of his side’s next two fixtures against Liverpool in the Premiership and Lille in the Champion’s League, the Manchester United boss rested eight players from the side that narrowly won 2-1 at Fulham on the weekend, including Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The absence of his two superstars initially proved irrelevant as United blitzed Reading with three goals in the first six minutes only to sit back on their lead and allow the home side to claw their way back into the contest, setting up a nervy final five minutes for the Premiership leaders.
Reading boss Steve Coppell began the game with an aggressive looking forward line of three, including Irish international Kevin Doyle, who was making his first start in over a month after overcoming a hamstring injury.
With just a minute gone the Royals boss was considering a rethink as Gabriel Heinze put United into the lead inside two minutes.
John O’Shea’s purposeful run past Steve Sidwell intended to set up Keiron Richardson but Ulises de la Cruz blocked, with the clearance only going as far as Heinze waiting on the edge of the penalty area, who lashed his effort straight at Adam Federici but the ball squirmed under the Australian goalkeeper.
Minutes later and the lead was doubled when Louis Saha shrugged off the attentions of Andre Bikey and finished impressively from a tight angle.
Things continued to get worse for Reading as United added a third.
Their defence was caught not so much sleeping as comatose when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was put through by Saha, who by now was enjoying the freedom of Berkshire, and the Norwegian slotted coolly past an almost disbelieving Federici.
The three goals sparked Reading into life and they gave themselves a spirited chance when Ivar Ingimarsson headed a John Oster corner into Dave Kitson, who nodded home at the far post.
With their lead cut United then retreated further into their shells, allowing a rejuvenated Reading to take the game to them and even though the second half struggled to match the spellbinding opening of the first, the number of passes by red-shirted players that were going astray gave the home side increased initiative.
Substitute Glen Little’s cross had Leroy Lita in its sights on 78 minutes, only for Wes Brown to pull off a fantastic defensive header to deny the England under-21 international at the far post.
The introduction of Rooney was Ferguson’s attempt to kill off the game but Reading continued to press forward with intent and when Sidwell bundled his way into the penalty area to set up Kitson, Van der Sar was called upon to pull off a dramatic save.
The Royals finally had their goal when de le Cruz found Lita, who stretched back largely unchallenged to head past the United keeper and, despite Brynjar Gunnarsson crashing an effort against the crossbar in the final seconds, Ferguson was able to relax and turn his attentions to Anfield on Saturday.
Penalty shoot-out
Middlesbrough booked their place in the FA Cup quarterfinals after a nerve-racking penalty shoot-out win at West Bromwich Albion, also on Tuesday.
Gareth Southgate’s side were taken to the brink by Championship outfit Albion, but they held their nerve to win 5-4 on penalties after the fifth-round replay had finished 1-1 after extra-time.
Middlesbrough, who also won on penalties against Bristol City in the previous round, will now host United in the last eight on March 10.
Darren Carter had put the hosts ahead at The Hawthorns, but Australia striker Mark Viduka equalised before Albion’s Nathan Ellington was sent off in extra-time.
With West Bromwich facing Sunderland in a crucial promotion clash on Saturday, Tony Mowbray opted to rest his strikers, with Diomansy Kamara on the bench, while Kevin Phillips was left out entirely.
Despite the absence of their star forwards, Albion were quickly into their stride, with Richard Chaplow’s low strike well stopped by Australian keeper Brad Jones.
He made an even better save to deny Paul McShane after the defender met Carter’s corner with a powerful header.
West Bromwich were in complete control and Ellington forced Jones into action again with a fierce drive that the keeper managed to push away.
Zoltan Gera was next to test Jones with a header from Paul Robinson’s cross.
Middlesbrough had no answer to the home’s side constant pressure and the goal Albion’s dominance deserved finally arrived in the 26th minute.
Carter collected Ellington’s pass 25 yards from goal and unleashed a curling shot that flashed past Jones before he could move.
Southgate’s side were fortunate not to fall further behind after half-time when Jonathan Greening’s shot was well blocked by Jones.
That near-miss proved to be the turning point as Middlesbrough drew level in the 63rd minute.
Stuart Panarby sent in a cross that Albion failed to clear and Viduka pounced to send in a shot that deflected off Curtis Davies and past Dean Kiely for his eighth goal in 10 games.
Middlesbrough took control after that and Yakubu’s blistering shot was tipped over by Kiely before South Korea’s Lee Dong Gook, on for Viduka, had an effort turned away.
Albion were reduced to 10 men early in extra-time when Ellington was dismissed for a two-footed lunge on Panarby. But the visitors couldn’t make their advantage count and the tie went to penalties.
Middlesbrough had won on penalties in the fourth round and they proved to have the greater resolve again as Sherill MacDonald blasted over in sudden death to put the visitors through. — AFP
