Nani and Javier Hernandez both scored as Manchester United defeated Premier League strugglers Reading 2-1 in the FA Cup 5th Round at Old Trafford. Jobi McAnuff got a late consolation for Reading, but United held on.
This was the last match of the FA Cup weekend, and came less than a week after United heroically shared the spoils with Real Madrid at the Bernabeau in the Champions League.
Any fears of a hangover from that match were dispelled, as United started brightly, testing Adam Federici on a number of occasions within the first 10 minutes. Goals did not arrive until midway in the second half, but before that United had shown enough resolve to prove their minds weren’t on other matters.
One of the most pleasing sights on the night was United’s Nani flying down the wing, giving the sort of performance that justified Sir Alex Ferguson’s faith in the player, despite poor form and lack of match time due to injury. His goal capped off a fine display, and the joy on his face demonstrated that he was delighted to be back.
United had most of the play in the opening exchanges. Danny Welbeck and Hernandez forced Federici into an early double save and Ashley Young had a shot well saved on five minutes. The best chance came in the 21st minute, when Cleverley’s drive from 30 yards was spectacularly pushed away by the goalkeeper, and he was rapidly up to make a save from Young’s follow up.
Reading’s Gareth McLeary tested David de Gea on a couple of occasions before the half-time break, and in-form striker and boyhood United fan Adam Le Fondre had an effort go just wide. At the other end, Nani’s fiercely struck shot from 25 yards rebound off the post and no-one could follow up.
The end of the half was marred by an injury to United’s Phil Jones, who hobbled off to be replaced by Nani. His participation in the second leg against Real Madrid looks in doubt. Noel Hunt had also been left with blood on his shirt after a clash with Nemanja Vidic, but he was able to continue after a chance of shirt.
The second half began in a similar vein, with United seemingly always one step ahead of Reading, but the away side refused to die down. However their fans were silenced in 68th minute, as Nani finished low to Federici’s left from Antonio Valencia’s forward ball.
At this point, you suspected Reading’s resistance may have diminished somewhat, and Hernandez exposed Reading’s defence for a second time, after De Gea had denied Le Fondre at the other end, heading United into a 2-0 lead.
It looked like it would be a comfortable closing to game for United, but their passage through to a quarter-final against Chelsea or Middlesbrough from the Championship was made less secure in the 81st minute. McAnuff wriggled free of the United defenders, and finished smartly to set up a nervy finale.
Ferguson described the last 10 minutes as scary, and was relieved to avoid a replay being added to the busy schedule.
United remain in the hunt for three trophies, and we couldn’t ask for much more than that.
By Daniel Matcham @@03matchamdan
