Manchester United secured their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 3-1 win over West Ham United at Old Trafford.
It was a game that saw United make numerous changes to their starting lineup, with key players such as Marcus Rashford and Casemiro left on the bench.
West Ham were unlucky not to be ahead by halftime, with Michail Antonio squandering a clear chance, and Tomas Soucek scoring a goal that stood despite the controversy surrounding whether the ball had gone out of play.
United came out stronger in the second half, with the introduction of Rashford and Lisandro Martinez helping to shift the momentum in their favor.
ALSO READ: Arsenal thrash Everton to open five-point lead over Manchester City
However, it was West Ham who scored first, with Said Benrahma netting a fantastic goal. United quickly responded with a goal of their own, thanks to an own goal from Nayef Aguerd. In the dying minutes of the match, Alejandro Garnacho scored a superb winner before Fred added a third in injury time.
The win comes just days after United lifted the Carabao Cup, their first trophy in six years, and keeps their hopes of a quadruple alive. However, it was not an easy victory for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, with West Ham causing them trouble throughout the match.
The Hammers will be disappointed not to have made more of their opportunities, particularly in the first half when they were on top.
ALSO READ: Van Dijk, Salah strike as Liverpool beat Wolves 2-0 to boost Top 4 hopes
For United, it was a chance to rest some key players ahead of a busy schedule, and also give opportunities to some of their younger players. The likes of Garnacho, who scored the winner, and Shola Shoretire, who came on as a substitute, will have gained valuable experience from the match.
The victory sees United progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, where they will face a tough test against Leicester City.
It is a competition that Solskjaer’s side will be looking to win, having not lifted the trophy since 2016.
With the Premier League title looking unlikely, and the Europa League and Carabao Cup still up for grabs, the FA Cup could be United’s best chance of silverware this season.
