Late goals send Man United into Carabao Cup semi-finals

Late goals from Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial sent Manchester United into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, thanks to a 2-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park.

Both goals were netted in the space of five minutes — with Cavani scoring before the end of regulation time while Martial finished off a devastating counter-attack deep into added time to finish off the Toffees and qualify for the last-four stage of the competition.

Manchester United have reached the League Cup semi-finals for the 16th time, and the win moves Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Man United manager, closer towards securing his first trophy as the club’s boss.

An entertaining encounter saw both teams in a feisty mood, with scuffles involving Cavani on Yeri Mina, and Eric Bailey on Gyfil Siggurdson going unpunished due to the absence of the video assistant referee (VAR) system.

They would take turns to dominate and create chances but the 2000-strong Everton crowd had to wait until the 88th minute for the goals to come, and while it was worth the wait for United, Evertonians were crestfallen.

Cavani showed his lethal finishing when he collected a Martial pass and without any danger lurking switched the ball onto his right foot and hit a curling shot from 20 yards that left Jordan Pickford, Everton goalkeeper, grasping at the wind.

From then onward, Man United played their counter-attacking game plan to precision. Marcus Rashford wasted a three-on-two situation and Bruno Fernandes clipped the woodwork before Martial nailed Everton’s coffin.

The French striker was on the end of another counter-attack and he coolly slotted the ball under Pickford to double United’s winning margin.

The Red Devils join Man City, their local rivals, Tottenham and Brentford in the semi-finals of the competition.