Casemiro rings brace as Manchester United muscle Studying in FA Cup conflict

Casemiro scored twice as Manchester United cruised previous Studying to achieve the fifth spherical of the FA Cup at Outdated Trafford.

After a irritating first interval for the hosts the Brazil midfielder broke the Royals’ resistance early within the second half, scooping within the first of his two objectives after racing on to Antony’s incisive go.

He doubled United’s lead 4 minutes later, curling in from the sting of the field after amassing Fred’s go.

Andy Carroll was despatched off for the guests after choosing up his second yellow card shortly earlier than Fred backheeled within the hosts’ third objective from Bruno Fernandes’ cross.

Whereas Erik ten Hag’s aspect had alternatives to attain a fourth, substitute Amadou Mbengue headed in a comfort for Championship aspect Studying from Tom Ince’s nook.

The final of United’s 12 FA Cup triumphs got here in 2016 and Ten Hag signalled the significance he’s inserting on this competitors by deciding on a robust beginning XI containing only one change from their Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg win in opposition to Nottingham Forest midweek.

And there might be little doubt United deserved their victory after dominating a one-sided affair during which they initially struggled to make the breakthrough due to profligate ending.

Winger Antony was notably wasteful with 4 photographs within the first half, every curling effort nearly a carbon copy of the earlier one, all drifting broad of the far publish.

Fernandes twice dragged efforts throughout objective and broad, whereas Wout Weghorst, Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford all had alternatives to interrupt the impasse.

When United did get the ball at the back of the online VAR got here to Studying’s rescue, with Netherlands ahead Weghorst dominated offside earlier than he nodded the ball in Rashford’s course, with the England striker heading in on the again publish in useless.

They have been almost made to pay on the stroke of half-time however goalkeeper David de Gea saved along with his legs after Tyrell Malacia’s error introduced the ball to Junior Hoilett 10 yards out.

Casemiro’s high quality got here to the fore after the break, utilizing his expertise and nous to ship a beautiful end from Antony’s go, then including a second earlier than Brazil midfielder Fred supplied a sprinkling of samba aptitude with a chic end to make sure a snug passage for United.