Everton vs Manchester United result: Edinson Cavani’s late strike seals visitors’ spot in Carabao Cup semi-finals

Manchester United’s “desperation for trophies”, as Ole Gunner Solskjaer filed it, was closer to being fulfilled after progressing to the Carabao Cup semi-finals courtesy of Edinson Cavani’s late thunderbolt at Everton.

The Uruguay forward, the sharpest threat all evening, did the decisive damage in a game that promised much before the break, but was terribly poor after it. Anthony Martial added the finishing touches following a rapid counter.

United fell in the last four of three competitions last season, but are now infused with belief that they can add their first piece of silverware since 2017.

The noisy neighbours, Manchester City, are an obstacle to that as are Tottenham and Brentford.

And United will have to be a lot more consistent in their performances and heighten their clinical edge if they are to be crowned winners.

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In keeping with their campaign and spell under Solskjaer, they showed two faces at Goodison Park.

Everton were trying to keep up with shadows in the opening exchanges as United’s intense, purposeful start smothered them.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side were probably as taken aback as the global audience; we’d become accustomed to the opposite from the visitors.

They usually have to summon powers of recovery after the break to make amends for rusty beginnings.By the 20-minute mark here, though, the visitors had already managed five corners and seven shots, with goalkeeper Robin Olsen twice fortunate to get away with jitters as Cavani stalked in.

Jordan Pickford’s stand-in between the sticks had the second-most touches for Everton during much of the first half as the offensive surges from United flowed.

Solskjaer’s men had all the play and dominated physically, but had not translated their control of the encounter on the scoreboard.

On the half-hour, Everton began to find their rhythm and attacking groove, with Gylfi Sigurdsson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin applying sustained pressure on United’s goal.

They were left off the ropes and tried to fashion their own blows, but the first 45 ended goalless.

Cavani, who managed as many shots as Everton before the interval, had found the side netting early, but he was lucky that there is no VAR in this competition.

A feisty exchange with Yerry Mina ended with the striker grabbing the Colombian’s throat, which would have culminated in a sending off on video review.

Richarlison had to leave the pitch after taking a nasty blow to the head in a collision with Eric Bailly after being nudged into it by Bruno Fernandes.

Everton’s medical team correctly and very importantly refused to allow the attacker to continue despite his insistence that he was fine. Bernard replaced the Brazilian and the match quickly devolved into a scrappy affair.

Play broke down on account of poor movement, overhit passes while wild attempts at goal rather than well-worked ones became the norm.

Solskjaer threw on Martial and Marcus Rashford for Donny van de Beek and Mason Greenwood in an effort to increase the quality and cutting edge in the final third.

Nothing gave and the grim viewing carried on.

In that sense, the second half felt very 2020, with everyone wishing it would end.

Thankfully, it picked up at the death. Sigurdsson flung himself on an Alex Iwobi cross, but couldn’t  get enough on it.

At the other end, Cavani was supplied by Martial, motioned inside and then powered a left-footed shot into the far corner from 20 yards.

Everton overcommitted to get on level terms, which left them exposed. Rashford released Martial, who planted a composed finish with the last kick of the game to confirm United’s progress.

It also extended Everton’s trophy misery - they have not one a major piece of silverware since the FA Cup in 1994-95.