OLE NIGHT IN THE END
UP FOR THE CUP: Cavani’s goal breaks Everton resistance
EDINSON CAVANI’S 88thminute cracker set up Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s serial semi- finalists for another last- four appearance in the Carabao Cup.
The veteran Uruguayan striker cut inside and curled a brilliant effort into the far corner from the edge of the box after Anthony Martial had found him with an inch- perfect pass.
And Martial finished off the Toffees in the last minute with a calm finish after Marcus Rashford put him through.
It spoke volumes for the strength in depth of this Manchester United squad that Solskjaer was able to make nine changes from his Leedsbashing 11 and could still not be accused of taking the tie lightly. On the other hand, Carlo Ancelotti sent out what looked like a Premier League starting line- up.
With United engaged at Leicester City at Boxing Day lunchtime, it was a pragmatic move from Solskjaer.
But the quality throughout this Manchester United squad is undeniable.
Three United players made a bee- line for Everton boss Ancelotti before kick- off, warmly shaking him by the hand.
Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani and Nemanja Matic – three players not guaranteed a starting place at Old Trafford. Ancelotti would love those sort of options and by Farhad Moshiri has spending in January, have.
But for now, Everton are always going to have a real fight against the very top teams.
So it proved here. Throughout an uneven first half, United – with Pogba and Bruno Fernandes particularly instrumental – seemed to slip through the home defence at will.
And the only surprise was that, after the display of finishing at the weekend, it took them so long to make a breakthrough.
The different personnel had not been watching and learning, clearly.
Headers from Mason Greenwood and Pogba kissed the post and landed in Robin Olsen’s midriff respectively. the time finished he might
And the Swedish keeper made a decent double save from Reds striker Cavani. The Uruguayan remains some player.
You suspect if he was playing from the start, game in, game out, he would be prolific.
But he just seemed to look a little bit over- anxious in the opening exchanges.
He did try his luck from 45 yards, though, which tells you of a player who is never going to be short of confidence.
A bit like his goalkeeping teammate, Dean Henderson.
Not that Henderson needed show it a great deal early on.
His only serious piece of first- half work was the diversion of a to well- struck, struck but not wicked, free- kick Sigurdsson.
That signalled something close to an Everton revival, United’s dominance fading slightly and Cavani’s frustration spilling over into a grappling match with Yerry Mina.
Cavani appeared to grab Mina by the throat and the Colombian collapsed. Had VAR been in operation, Cavani might have been sent off.
But that was a trivial spat compared to the collision that ended Richarlison’s night.
A shove from Bruno Fernandes and a flying, reckless challenge from Eric Bailly concussed the Brazilian. particularly from Gylfi
It was obviously not malicious but there was clearly danger in the United pincer movement.
And when he finally left the field – probably inadvisedly on foot – Richarlison could not walk in a straight line.
Along with the apparent injustice of Cavani’s let- off, that certainly riled the small contingent of home fans and the Everton players.
CONCERN: Richarlison needs treatment after a collision