Let’s recap one of the best matches today: Manchester United twice came from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-2 and advance to last 16 of the Carabao Cup.
A turgid first half was followed by a frantic second which delivered all six goals – Anthony Martial cancelled out Ollie Watkins’ opener within seconds, then Marcus Rashford struck after a Diogo Dalot own goal had put the visitors back in front.
Bruno Fernandes then fired United ahead in the 78th minute before Scott McTominay added a fourth in stoppage time, with both goals set up by teenager Alejandro Garnacho after he had come off the bench.
The result saw United exact some revenge for Sunday’s 3-1 Premier League defeat at Villa Park and send the Old Trafford faithful away happy in their final home game before the World Cup.
Both managers made seven changes from Sunday, with Harry Maguire taking the captain’s armband for United while there was a debut in goal for Martin Dubravka. Cristiano Ronaldo, the skipper on Sunday, was not in the squad due to illness.
Donny van de Beek made a third straight start, playing in a number 10 role with Fernandes shunted out wide, but hardly shone as neither side managed to mount any sustained pressure in a poor opening 45 minutes.
Villa could barely get out of their own half, United rarely managed to stay onside. Fernandes had the ball in the net in the 18th minute but the flag had long been up against Rashford as he set off too early to meet Fred’s through ball.
Fernandes flashed a shot wide as the pressure grew. Olsen responded by first spilling a cross, then mis-hitting a clearance straight to Garnacho.
The youngster squared the ball to Fernandes who took a touch before hitting a shot that deflected off Mings on its way past the goalkeeper.
And Garnacho was the creator again in stoppage time, looping in a cross from the left which McTominay stretched to poke home at the far post.