[Highlights, Post-Match Reaction below]
Match Report: Nottingham Forest 0 Manchester United 3
Rashford (6’minutes), Weghorst (45’minutes), Bruno Fernandes (89’minutes)
With close to their strongest eleven on display, Manchester United’s forwards feasted on a very open Nottingham Forest. United thrived in the wide open spaces Forest gifted them, and although Forest created as many chances, United were the more clinical.
Manchester United started the better side with Forest nervous. Their diamond formation gave United plenty of room to play out wide. And in the seventh minute, United ruthlessly exploited that space. From a throw-in deep in their half, United beat the press before Casemiro found Rashford in space out wide close to the halfway line. Rashford accelerated forward and, with two men around him at the corner of the box, powered through then took a couple of touches before finishing with his left low to the keeper’s right.
Forest seemed deflated. United dominated the ball before a moment of complacency in attack set Forest free on a three versus two attack that ended in Surridge scoring a VAR-disallowed goal. That decision seemed to spur forest on. They were the better side until the end of the half and unlucky not to score. Then in the final minutes of the half, Casemiro surged forward powerfully and played the ball inside to Antony who flicked the ball up before unleashing a powerful shot that the keeper could not hold. Weghorst ghosted in to finish from close range. Two nil United! Forest were unlucky not to be one all at halftime. Two nil was cruel.
In the second half, United managed their lead, limiting Forest’s chances while looking for chances to counterattack. They could’ve probably scored more if they had tried, but the emphasis was taking care of their lead. Still, the chances came. Pellistri, who had just fluffed the chance of a goal moments earlier, was found with a through ball from Fernandes. Forest’s Nico Williams struggled to clear but only managed to find Elanga who chipped a lovely ball for Fernandes to run onto and finish first-time on the volley.
In the end, the scoreline probably flattered United, but they did more than enough to win the game comfortably and put one foot in Wembley.
Nottingham Forest: Hennessey, Aurier, Worrall, McKenna, Lodi, Danilo, Freuler, Johnson, Gibbs-White, Scarpa, Surridge.
Subs: Smith, Cook, Mangala, Williams, Colback, Lingard, O’Brien, Dennis, Boly.
Manchester United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Malacia, Fernandes, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Weghorst, Rashford.
Subs: Heaton, Fred, Varane, Pellistri, Williams, Elanga, McTominay, Garnacho, Mainoo.
Garnacho > Rashford 57′, Fred > Eriksen 71′, Antony > Pellistri ’71, Elanga > Weghorst 85′
Highlights
MUTV : Wout Off The Mark! 🙌🔴 | Forest 0-3 Man Utd | Highlights