Man Utd vs Reading LIVE: FA Cup result and final score after Casemiro hits double
Erik ten Hag targets a spot in the fifth round as Man Utd host Reading in the FA Cup
Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min returned to form with two goals in his side’s 3-0 defeat of second-tier Preston North End in the FA Cup fourth round and Casemiro also grabbed a brace in Manchester United’s 3-1 win over Reading on Saturday.
Fellow Premier League sides Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton also reached round five on a shock-less day.
Top flight Fulham were held to a 1-1 home draw by second-tier Sunderland at Craven Cottage.
South Korean Son has endured a lean season but made the difference with two superb goals after the break as the visitors moved comfortably through to the next round.
Five minutes into the second half, the ball was played to Son outside the penalty area and he struck an unstoppable drive low into the corner of the net.
It was only his second goal since mid-October but 19 minutes later he struck again, turning smoothly on the edge of the box and firing past Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
Apart from a brief spell in between Tottenham’s goals, Preston rarely troubled the away side who did not even need to bring leading scorer Harry Kane off the bench.
Dutch forward Arnaut Danjuma, who signed for Spurs on loan from Spanish club Villarreal this week, came off the bench to score his side’s third with a close-range finish late on.
Reading were riding their luck at Old Trafford until Casemiro scored twice in the space of four minutes early in the second half to pave the way for United’s win.
His first was a delightful dinked finish from Antony’s pass and he then drilled in a low shot to double the lead.
Fred made it 3-0 before Andy Carroll was sent off for Reading after picking up a second yellow card.
Amadou Salif Mbengue pulled a goal back for Reading who are managed by former United midfielder Paul Ince.
Kelechi Iheanacho spared Leicester City a potential giant-killing as his second-half goal ensured the Foxes beat fourth-tier Walsall 1-0.
It took 30 minutes for Leicester to get a shot on target and a frustrating afternoon was made worse as Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans struck a penalty against the post after Patson Daka was fouled inside the box.
Second-half substitute Iheanacho unlocked Walsall when his effort from the edge of the box deflected off the back of home defender Brandon Comley and beyond keeper Owen Evans.
Leeds advanced to the fifth round for the first time since 2016 with a 3-1 win at third-tier Accrington Stanley.
Jack Harrison put Leeds ahead with a spectacular long-range strike after 23 minutes before Junior Firpo and Luis Sinisterra scored within two minutes of each other midway through the second half to put Jesse Marsch’s men on course for victory.
Leslie Adekoya, 18, pulled one back for Accrington in the 81st with his first senior goal seconds after coming on.
Southampton put their Premier League woes aside to beat Championship strugglers Blackpool 2-1 while Bristol City eased to a 3-0 win over fellow second-tier side West Bromwich Albion.
Casemiro inspires Man Utd past Reading to reach FA Cup fifth round
Apt a tribute as it was, it probably was not the one Paul Ince wanted. As a Manchester United great returned to Old Trafford, his Reading side were condemned to defeat by a defensive midfielder who showed an eye for goal. It was a hallmark of Ince in his playing days and, when Reading were producing a display of admirable defiance, Casemiro delivered a five-minute brace. The breakthrough featured a late surge into the box that was reminiscent of the powerhouse in the United midfield three decades ago. The general feel, of a midfielder grabbing the game by the scruff of its neck, was one United relished in the 1990s.
Ince won the FA Cup twice as a United player and now Erik ten Hag’s team remain the only side in four competitions. The manager felt a contributor to their 11th successive win at Old Trafford: partly by fielding his strongest available midfield and attack and then, after United’s first-half dominance brought just two shots on target from 15 efforts and no lead, by sending out a side who showed more purpose. A talisman duly secured progress.
With an Ince-esque run, Casemiro surged on to Antony’s slide-rule pass and dinked a shot over Joe Lumley. The scorer pointed to the supplier in his celebrations: it was a belated first assist for United for the younger and more expensive Brazilian but it was harder to deflect credit for his second goal.
Casemiro inspires Man Utd past Reading to reach FA Cup fifth round
Man Utd 3-1 Reading: The Brazilian hit a double to extend the Red Devils’ home win streak to matches
FT Man Utd 3-1 Reading
Casemiro has been in involved in nine goals this season for United (28 games - four goals, five assists), more than twice as many as he managed in 48 games for Real Madrid last season (one goal, three assists).
The Brazilian scored two goals in a club match for the first time since January 2020 for Real Madrid against Sevilla.
FT Man Utd 3-1 Reading
Manchester United have progressed from 10 of their 11 FA Cup ties against Reading, only failing in the third round in 1926-27.
Reaction from Harry Maguire
Manchester United captain, Harry Maguire, spoke to ITV after the game and praised the impact Casemiro has had on the team since joining in the summer.
“We had numerous chances. We spoke at half-time about having patience and we’ll get the first goal.”
“He’s [Casemiro] done what he was brought in to do, He’s a phenomenal player. You don’t win what he’s won without being a top player. He’s improved the team, the morale and the performance.
“I’ve looked after myself. It was two and a half weeks since my last start. I’ve been working hard in training. When I get the opportunity I need to take it. I’m ready when my chance comes.
“I’m 29 and I haven’t really been in this position in my career. I don’t want to get used to it but it’s part and parcel of football.”
Full-time: Man Utd 3-1 Reading
90+4 mins: Manchester United progress through another round of the FA Cup. Goals from Casemiro (2) and Fred were enough to see them past a stout hearted Reading side.
Erik ten Hag’s campaign to bring sliverware back to Old Trafford goes on. His team have now won 11 games in a row at Old Trafford.
Is the Dutchman making them into a force to be reckoned with once again? It seems so.
Man Utd 3-1 Reading
90 mins: Another short corner for Manchester United comes to Antony who fancies one from range. He drills one at goal from 20 yards but can’t get it through the cluster of shirts and Reading boot the blocked effort away.
Four minutes of added time to play.
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