Man Utd come from behind twice to make Carabao last 16

Man Utd avoided defeat against Aston Villa for the second time in four days after coming from behind on two occasions in this Carabao Cup clash. After a dull and goalless first half, the second half was full of excitement. Oli Watkins put Villa ahead, but Antony Martial levelled seconds later. A Diogo Dalot own goal saw Villa go back in front just after the hour mark, but goals from Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay saw Man Utd book their place in the last 16. 

Ten Hag had said he wanted a "reaction" after branding United's limp loss at Villa Park as "not acceptable". The United manager got his wish, but not before a scare from Emery's team, who have played with more verve since the Spaniard arrived from Villarreal to replace the sacked Steven Gerrard. The League Cup remains United's last domestic trophy triumph in 2017 and Ten Hag would relish the chance to end that drought later this year. He will have to wait until after the World Cup for United's next League Cup tie, with the last 16 scheduled for just days after the final in Qatar.

Cristiano Ronaldo, suffering from illness, was absent from the United squad, so Martial started up front for just the second time this season following a series of injuries. Martin Dubravka was making his United debut and the former Newcastle keeper was almost embarrassed as Douglas Luiz's inswinging corner arrowed towards the near post, where McTominay headed off the line to spare the Slovak's blushes. That near-miss was the highlight of a scrappy first half as each teams surrendered possession more than 60 times.

The entertainment level rose dramatically after half-time. Villa took the lead in the 48th minute when Jacob Ramsey's pass caught United in a failed attempt to play offside. Watkins sprinted in behind Harry Maguire and Dalot before clipping a deft finish over Dubravka. United produced the perfect response with an equaliser 60 seconds later. Picked out by Dalot's pass, Fernandes got behind the flat-footed Villa defence and squared for Martial, who had the simple task of tapping in his fourth goal this season.

 

November 10, 2022

Villa went back in front after 61 minutes when former United defender Ashley Young crossed to the far post, where Dalot stuck out a boot to deflect Leon Bailey's header into his own net. 

On the day his place in England's World Cup squad was confirmed after his renaissance this term, Rashford bagged the 67th minute equaliser. Rashford started the move with a header towards Christian Eriksen in the Villa area. When the ball rolled back to him, Rashford showed a deft touch to evaded Tyrone Mings' lunge and then displayed his strength by holding off Calum Chambers before ramming his close-range finish past Olsen.

United had all the momentum by that point and Fernandes completed their comeback in the 79th minute. Olsen's horrendous pass went straight to Alejandro Garnacho and he set up Fernandes for a powerful strike that deflected in off Mings. In stoppage-time, McTominay volleyed home from a pin-point cross by eye-catching substitute Garnacho to secure their passage to the next round.