JUAN IN ONE OUT
Mata hits winner but United are left sweating over Rashford injury
A CLASSY goal by Juan Mata sent Manchester United into the FA Cup fourth round last night.
But their replay victory over Wolves was marred by an injury to Marcus Rashford ahead of Sunday’s trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Mata’s 67th-minute chip saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side through to face Tranmere or Watford.
JUAN MATA fired Manchester United into the fourth round at Old Trafford last night.
But the victory appeared to come at a cost for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side with Marcus Rashford limping off injured in the second half.
A first victory for Solskjaer over Nuno Espirito Santo at the fifth attempt teed up a United clash against either Tranmere or Watford.
Of more immediate concern, however, will be facing league leaders Liverpool on Sunday potentially without Rashford, who lasted 15 minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Mata’s neat finish proved the difference between the two sides after 180 minutes of football in a replay in which Wolves might have taken an early lead.
The visitors had a first-half effort ruled out correctly for handball in the build-up but were second best for most of the night.
It may be that Nuno’s side will at some time in the next few months fall in an exhausted heap.
But for now, they continue to confound expectations despite a season already 38 games old and which started with Europa League qualification back in July.
They had keeper John Ruddy to thank here for keeping them level at halftime as he produced three superb blocks.
But Wolves also had their chances, with Matt Doherty heading against a post and Pedro Neto having an effort ruled out.
Dan James was twice denied in the first half, Ruddy flicking the ball off his foot as he raced on to Mata’s flighted pass, then blocking with a shoulder as James let fly from inside the box.
In between, Ruddy got down low to tip a Mata effort around the post.
Wolves might have gone in front when Raul Jimenez produced a superb turn inside the box, only to hit a tame shot goalwards.
Neto had the ball in the net on 10 minutes after
Nemanja Matic and Fred presented the ball to Jimenez, only for VAR to decide he handled in the build-up.
United were in front in the 67th minute. The move started inauspiciously, with Harry Maguire deep in the United half near the corner flag, but his well-directed lump upfield was pocketed by Anthony Martial, who turned and fed Mata.
The Spaniard’s 31-year-old legs tend to tire towards the end of games these days. But here, with Martial threading the ball through for him to run on to, he powered clear of the chasing Conor Coady and chipped the ball over the outrushing Ruddy to put United ahead.
Wolves tried to respond but, in throwing resources forward, they left themselves open to swift counters from United.
Solskjaer threw on Rashford in an attempt to pin Wolves back further, which was a bold and aggressive move.
Yet it was a decision which backfired, with the striker lasting just 15 minutes before he went down awkwardly in a challenge with Doherty and was taken off again.
It was the one negative on a night when United’s cup ambitions remained afloat.