Manchester United moved within reach of a place in the Carabao Cup final after beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the City Ground on Wednesday in the first leg of the semi-finals.
United scored early and late in the first half to stay in control. Marcus Rashford scored a solo goal to continue his blistering form and Wout Weghorst converted a simple rebound to score his first goal for the club since joining from Burnley.
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Forest, who had been in the hunt for their first League Cup final since 1992, put in a strong performance but failed to make the most of a number of promising attacks. And an 89th-minute goal from Bruno Fernandes means next week’s second leg at Old Trafford is certainly no more than a formality for Man United to secure a trip to Wembley.
“I’m satisfied with the performance, we controlled the game for 90 minutes,” said United coach Erik ten Hag. “There was a moment that could have changed the game and we have to be aware of that and improve.
Ten Hag’s determination to make the most of a trophy opportunity in his first season at Old Trafford was evident in another strong starting line-up which included Casemiro, who was suspended following his suspension in Sunday’s Premier League defeat against Arsenal returned.
It took just six minutes for the visitors to take the lead and Rashford found the net again. This time the goal was entirely the work of the England striker, who rushed in from his own half to the left before slicing between two Forest defenders and firing a left-footed shot at the near post.
The goal was Rashford’s 10th in 10 games since the World Cup, the most by any player in Europe’s top five leagues.
“I’m happy with Marcus’ performance and development,” said Ten Hag. “He’s been growing since the start of the season and continues to do so.
“We have to keep his process going and when he’s in that mood and that spirit I think there’s no stopping him. It’s up to the team to put him in the right positions.”
But Forest was undeterred by that early concession and came close to equalizing on several occasions. Brennan Johnson’s pace was a constant threat to United’s defence, allowing him to force a low save from David de Gea and later shoot over the bar when his composure was the last to fail him.
The hosts thought they had equalized in the 23rd minute when a lightning break culminated in Sam Surridge finding the net but a VAR check ruled him offside.
Then, just before half-time, United snagged a potentially crucial second. Antony, who had already been denied a good chance, forced Forest goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey to block his well-made volley, allowing Weghorst to open his United account.
It was similar in the second half. United almost made it 3-0 when Christian Eriksen curled a first shot over the bar. At the other end, Forest once again regretted a lack of clinical touch as the lively Morgan Gibbs-White shot wildly wide after winning the ball just outside the box.
Fernandes’ late strike, driving deep right out of the box, might have been cruel for Forest but will surely see Man United head to Wembley where they aim for their first major trophy in six years.
“Obviously it was a disappointing result,” said Forest coach Steve Cooper. “The last thing you want to do is go to Old Trafford with that result.
“Obviously Rashford is one of the most in-form players in the country but it’s not good enough that we’re allowing him to do what he did.”
Newcastle United won 1-0 in the first leg of the other semi-final in Southampton.
Information from Portal was used in this report.