United, City into 4th round

London, Sept. 21: Marcus Rashford fired Manchester United into the League Cup fourth round as the holders crushed Burton 4-1, while Manchester City eased through with a 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday.

City and United, currently first and second in the Premier League, took contrasting routes to the last 16, where they were joined by Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton as the big guns advanced despite fielding weakened teams.

United manager Jose Mourinho made nine changes from the side that thrashed Everton on Sunday, with Rashford and Juan Mata the only survivors. Rashford took just five minutes to open the scoring with a deft finish and the England forward struck again in the 17th minute.

Burton, 19th in the Championship, were killed off in the 36th minute when Jesse Lingard’s shot deflected in off Ben Turner.

Injury-ravaged United leftback Luke Shaw came on for his first appearance since April before Anthony Martial scored the fourth from Rashford’s pass on the hour. Lloyd Dyer got one back for Burton in stoppage-time.

At the Hawthorns, City boss Pep Guardiola made eight changes from the 6-0 demolition of Watford, giving Yaya Toure his first start of the season, while Ilkay Gundogan, back from a serious knee injury, started for the first time since December.

It was from Gundogan’s saved shot that Leroy Sane slotted in City’s third minute opener.

But, casting a shadow over City’s progress, Gundogan was forced off with a knock in the second half.

Claudio Yacob equalised for Albion with a closerange finish in the 72nd minute, only for Germany winger Sane to produce a superb curling winner five minutes later.