Man Utd vs Rochdale
Carabao Cup 3rd Rnd
8:00pm Wednesday 25th September
Old Trafford
(Att: 58313)
Manchester United win.
Manchester United defeated a scare against Rochdale, winning a Carabao Cup penalty shootout 5-3 after being held to a 1-1 draw in regular time.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side had wasted a variety of chances earlier Mason Greenwood (68) scored his second senior goal with a thunderous effort.
However, Rochdale got themselves back to the third-round tie long afterwards as 16-year-old Luke Matheson (75) levelled for the people to finally send the match to penalties.
It turned out to be a out of United – who scored their spot-kicks all – while a miss from midfielder Jimmy Keohane watched Rochdale agonisingly depart the competition.
United will travel to Chelsea.
United dominated the first half but squandered a number of chances. They were kept outside by some marvellous saves from Rochdale goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, with his first two stops coming from the 19th minute. He jumped to deny Tahith Chong ahead of a fierce shot in Andreas Pereira. He had been at it again seven minutes later because he kept a header out before Marcos Rojo nodded wide.
When the returning Paul Pogba wasted a glorious opportunity, united’s best chance of the opening period came in the 35th minute. A pass that was lovely floated in for the Frenchman, that ran forward to match, however, with the goal at his mercyhe frustratingly directed his header from six yards out.
Greenwood might have snatched a goal five minutes however, after a great drive to the region, another superb Sanchez stop kept out his well-taken attack. Not long after, Lingard led a header wide of the article again as United suffered a frustrating first half.
It was Rochdale who had a chance in the second halfof the Former Man Utd academy merchandise Oliver Rathbone danced before cutting the ball back into Callum Camps within a now-packed area. But, his shot had been scraped off the line with a bicycle kick against Aaron Wan-Bissaka at a bit of defending.
United eventually produced a breakthrough in the 68th minute with a rocket out of Greenwood. The hosts played with around the region until Lingard slid the 17-year-old at down the right of this box. He nipped prior hammering a shot into the back of the net for his second senior aim.
But seven minutes later, Rochdale got themselves level. Rathbone collected a pass on the left, before looping a shot controlling it. It did not look like it would issue United, until prior to observing Matheson came in to flick the ball home.
United continued to push for the winner, but were not able to create the breakthrough as the tie went into a penalty shoot-out. The hosts went and scored each of the fees, but a miss from Keohane, who watched the next kick of Rochdale stored by Sergio Romero, finally sealed their exit.
This was another amazing performance from Greenwood up-front as he continues to reveal flashes of what he could bring to Manchester United. While several opportunities were missed by him, he still took his goal and it was a strike that beat a confident goalkeeper.
In addition, he scored a punishment in the shootout, not showing any flash and he should be pleased with his operation.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was amazed with 17-year-old Greenwood in addition to their opponents Rochdale while it wasn’t the complete performance from Manchester United.
He said:”Penalty shoot-outs can go either way. I thought Rochdale were excellent, we researched and analysed them and they are a bit unorthodox, but they are confident and the way they set up their team, it was fantastic tonight to watch them.
“We’re through, so we’re delighted with that and that is one also. The next is the lovers, they have been unbelievable and the next were penalties. They were written and the boys enjoyed taking them.
“You always need a quality in the past third and also we lacked that sometimes. They defended well, naturally we ought to have scored quite a few objectives, but we have talked about it several times that when you do not take your chances, it’s likely to be a difficult night but we have got Mason who knows where the aim is.
“He scored a fantastic goal now as well and he is a confident finisher but you have got to rememberhe’s 18 second week so give him the time and he’ll be a very good player.”
Rochdale director Bryan Barry-Murphy was so pleased with his side played at Old Trafford at what he called the”adventure of a lifetime”.
He explained:”I think that it was a really successful day for us. If we are attempting to be perfectionists, you would say we’d want to win the tie and go through rather than celebrate being knocked out of the contest but our lads gave everything in this contest right from the start.
“For the men about the pitch and around the sides, it was the experience of a lifetime and one they will hope to repeat as they advance through their careers.”
It’s a game for Man Utd before travelling to AZ Alkmaar at the Europa League second as they sponsor Arsenal on Monday Night Football. On Saturday, they sponsor Wycombe at League One for Rochdale.
Read more here: http://www.huntinglegends.com//?p=4883
