Marcus Rashford kept up his impressive scoring pace as his two goals in stoppage time gave Manchester United a 3-0 Carabao Cup quarterfinal win over Charlton of the Sky Bet League One.
After Antony's first-half goal gave United the lead, Rashford scored twice in stoppage time to end the game. This was his sixth consecutive match with a goal. As of early November, it was their eighth straight victory, and they secured a spot in their third League Cup semi final in four years.
Erik ten Hag, a demanding manager, won't be lavishing praise after this performance, either, as his drastically altered team was pushed hard at Old Trafford by the third-tier Addicks. In fact, they weren't able to secure their triumph at the very end until Ten Hag had added big guns Rashford, Casemiro, and Christian Eriksen.
Although they have won eight of their last twelve games and 11 of their last 12, they will face a considerably tougher test on Saturday when they face off in the Manchester derby.
They will be content to be in the final four of the competition, which will determine their final domestic victory of 2017, and will face either Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Southampton, or Manchester City.
The Addicks, who are coached by ardent United supporter Dean Holden, can be proud of their performance as they focus on making a play-off push in League One in the second half of the year.
If the hosts had taken advantage of one of the early opportunities that the immensely talented Alejandro Garnacho produced, it might have been even more convincing for them. After cutting inside from the byline, the Spaniard created a chance for Diogo Dalot, but the defender blasted over from a decent position.
Then, with his defender Sean Clare on toast, Garnacho twice attempted to go alone, first cutting in and then flinging a shot just wide, followed by a jinking run into the penalty area that finished with him dragging a shot wide. However, United scored their first goal in the 21st minute from the right.
They did a good job of moving the ball out to Antony, who took advantage of some space with his left foot of choice and fired a curling shot past Ashley Maynard-Brewer and into the top corner.
Ten minutes before halftime, the hosts were just inches away from doubling their advantage when Fred's 30-yard free kick hit a post with Maynard-Brewer watching from the sidelines.
With 10,000 traveling supporters cheering them on, Charlton had fought valiantly and had the game's best stretch before the break. Albie Morgan had whipped a free-kick wide, and Tom Heaton had to make a diving save to keep Corey Blackett-Taylor from converting a low cross from Clare.
They made a great start to the second half as well, and 76 seconds after the break, Scott Fraser capitalized on Miles Leaburn's flick-on but missed the target with a left-footed attempt.
Although Charlton continued to pressure their famed hosts—and Anthony Elanga had a goal disallowed for an obvious offside—Ten Hag brought on Rashford, Casemiro, and Eriksen after an hour because of their influence.
This seasoned three assisted United in taking control of the game and they had opportunities to end it as Garnacho brought out a flying save from Maynard-Brewer, who also dove low to block Eriksen's attempt.
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