Casemiro was the unlikely scorer of a brace as Manchester United safely secured their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 win over Reading.
Erik ten Hag named a strong side but had to wait until the second-half for the breakthrough when Casemiro scored twice in four minutes.
Substitute Fred added a third a minute after Reading had former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll sent off for a second bookable offence. The Championship side, managed by ex-United midfielder Paul Ince, got one back through Amadou Mbengue.
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Despite creating a host of opportunities, United couldn’t find a way through a deep and resilient Reading defence in the opening half. Marcus Rashford’s well-struck free-kick called goalkeeper Joe Lumley into action while home debutant Wout Weghorst and Antony also went close.
The hosts had the ball in the back of the net when Rashford nodded home at the far post but the goal was disallowed following a VAR review, with the England international denied a new club record of scoring in 10 consecutive home games.
Reading almost took a shock lead on the stroke of half-time after Tyrell Malacia made a mistake in his own penalty area but was bailed out by team-mate David De Gea who saved Junior Hoilett’s effort.
But nine minutes after the break, United finally broke the deadlock, Casemiro latching onto compatriot Antony’s reverse pass and lifting it over the onrushing Lumley. The former Real Madrid player then added a second with a stunner from 25 yards.
Reading’s night went from bad to worse when Carroll was shown two yellow cards in five minutes before Fred added a third with a clever flick from Bruno Fernandes’ cross.
The visitors grabbed a consolation when Mbengue was left unmarked to head home from a corner delivery, but it was a mere blot on United’s copybook.
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