WEST HAM UNITED 1, MANCHESTER UNITED 2 (FA Cup Quarter Final Replay)
The final FA Cup tie at Upton Park was roused in the second half as goals by Marcus Rashford and Maroane Fellaini booked Manchester United’s place in the FA Cup semi finals against Everton.
James Tomkins’ brave header gave the home side a glimmer of hope while Andy Carroll and Cheikhou Kouyate had late chances saved by David De Gea but the Reds held on to earn their place in the FA Cup semi final.
Louis Van Gaal’s side put last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at White Hart Lane against Tottenham behind them as the United beat the pre-game odds thanks to great performances by Rashford and De Gea to revive their season once again.
The Reds made just two changes from the side that was beaten across town at White Hart Lane against Spurs on Saturday, with Fellaini and Ander Hererra replacing Juan Mata and Ashley Young.
Wayne Rooney played for an hour in United’s U21 win over Middlesbrough on Monday and was on the bench of the 154th and final FA Cup tie at a wet Upton Park which didn’t quite match the excitement suggested in the early billing.
David De Gea was the busier of the two goalkeepers early on, with free kick specialist Dimitri Payet testing him early on and Enner Valencia’s tame efforts not troubling the Spaniard but the Hammers were becalmed by a disciplined first half performance by the Reds although the Reds couldn’t avoid notching a 22nd goalless first half of the season.
Darren Randolph, in the West Ham goal, blocked the best chance of the first half when United’s Jesse Lingard was put through by Marcus Rashford in the 35th minute. Lingard’s shot was blocked by the cup ‘keeper’s outstretched boot.
United kept up the pressure in the second half and Lingard’s swerving shot from the edge of the box flew wide of the near post after 49 minutes.
And Marcus Rashford’s 54th minute strike put the Reds into the lead after Michail Antonio’s error allowed Anthony Martial the space to put the young striker through.
Rashford put his weekend disappointment against Spurs behind him when he shimmied past James Tomkins before blasting a rising shot past Randolph into the top corner for his 6th goal in just 11 games for the Reds.
Upton Park was alive as the Hammers tried to react and Payet had a penalty shout turned down after the ball broke to him when Antonio bulldozed Daley Blind on his way to the area.
Randolph was off his line twice to deny United a second goal cushion but Maroane Fellaini doubled United’s lead from four yards out after 67 minutes with a deflected finished off his body from Martial’s cross.
United kept coming as the shellshocked Hammers reeled and chances for Martial and Lingard were spurned, with Randolph’s goal under siege for the last quarter of the game.
Ander Hererra was carried off the pitch by Hammers’ captain Mark Noble after he sustained a late injury and was hobbling off too slowly as the home side desperately tried to change things.
De Gea produced a top class save in the 78th minute to deny Emmanuel Emenike after he met Payet’s corner but the Hammers couldn’t be stopped.
Payet’s second consecutive corner a minute later was headed back into the fray by Andy Carroll where Tomkins bravely headed home past De Gea to reduce the deficit.
Carroll’s 88th minute header to get on the end of Aaron Cresswell’s cross flew over from six yards out as United lived on their wits at the very end.
Cheikhou Kouyate’s 89th minute header was ruled out for offside after he latched onto the rebound from De Gea’s double save from the midfielder and Carroll.
And the Hammers had one final chance in the 92nd minute when Payet won a free kick 30 yards out but, unlike at Old Trafford, the free kick was deflected away for a corner.