NOTTINGHAM, England — Manchester United are just 90 minutes away from the Carabao Cup final after sealing a 3-0 semifinal first-leg win against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
– Report: Nottingham Forest 0-3 Man United
Goals from Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes were enough to give United a commanding lead going into next Wednesday’s second leg at Old Trafford.
The tie could have been much closer had Sam Surridge’s first-half goal, which would have made it 1-1, not been ruled out for offside by VAR. But United were comfortable throughout and can now start to look forward to a Wembley clash with Newcastle or Southampton next month.
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Rapid reaction
1. Rashford shines again to take United to brink of a Wembley final
Marcus Rashford made it 10 goals in 10 games for Manchester United as Erik ten Hag’s team put themselves to within reach of the Carabao Cup final and hopefully end a run of three successive domestic cup semifinal exits.
United must complete the formality of next Wednesday’s second leg at Old Trafford, but having failed to win a trophy since the Europa League under Jose Mourinho in 2017, the club are now within touching distance of ending that barren run. And it was in-form Rashford who set United on their way to victory, scoring a sixth-minute opener after receiving the ball inside the United half before racing past Joe Worrall and Remo Freuler to score.
Wout Weghorst’s first United goal since arriving on loan from Burnley earlier this month and a late Bruno Fernandes strike completed the scoring.
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After losing three straight domestic semifinals under former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ten Hag is set to win his first for the club and potentially win the first trophy available to him as manager. The historians might also point to Sir Alex Ferguson beating Forest on the way to his first trophy as United manager in the FA Cup in 1990. But while United and Ten Hag have still to win anything, the manner of this victory was further evidence that the team are back on track after so many years of under-performing.
United were always in control and the 3-0 scoreline did not flatter them. They could have won by more, but it barely matters: Forest won’t come back from this and United are on the way to Wembley again.
3. Forest’s young talent gives them optimism in a relegation battle
Nottingham Forest have exceeded expectations by reaching the Carabao Cup semifinals, but their priority this season has to be cementing their place in the Premier League ahead of reaching a Wembley final. And although they were beaten by United in this semifinal first leg, Steve Cooper’s team showed enough to suggest they will be successful in their bid to avoid dropping out of the Premier League after just one season back in the top flight.
Two big reasons for optimism at the City Ground are youngsters Morgan Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson, who were both outstanding against United.
Johnson, 21, has a real football pedigree with his father, David, enjoying a successful career at Forest after initially breaking through alongside David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville in United’s famed Class of ’92. He could fly even higher than his dad if he maintains the electric pace that troubled United all night. With such a crucial attribute, Johnson can be a key figure for Forest over the remaining months of the season and go on to enjoy lengthy career at the top.
Gibbs-White is another with a great future. The 22-year-old, a club record £42.5m signing from Wolves last summer, gave Forest energy and presence in midfield and looked completely at ease against United’s Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes.
Forest will have a tough task keeping both players at the club, but if they help keep them up this season, they will already have delivered in a big way for the team.
