Skip to main content

United ease past Derby to reach quarters

  • Story Highlights
  • Manchester United through to the FA Cup quarterfinals after beating Derby 4-1
  • Derby never appeared likely to repeat their victory over United earlier this year
  • Everton also through to the last eight of the competition after beating Villa 3-1
  • Next Article in World Sport »
Decrease font Decrease font
Enlarge font Enlarge font

(CNN) -- Manchester United safely secured their passage through to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup with a comfortable 4-1 victory at Championship side Derby County.

Nani (left) celebrates with Ryan Giggs after scoring the opening goal against Derby on Sunday.

Nani (left) celebrates with Ryan Giggs after scoring the opening goal against Derby on Sunday.

Derby had beaten United 1-0 at Pride Park when the two sides met earlier this year in the first leg of their Carling Cup semifinal, but Sunday's match never looked likely to follow a similar path.

The Premier League and European champions took the lead in the 29th minute when Portuguese international Nani drifted in from the left and curled a superb shot into the corner of the net.

The visitors thought they had doubled their lead when Cristiano Ronaldo slid the ball home from Ryan Giggs' pass -- but the goal was chalked off after a very late offside flag.

However, United still managed to go into the break with a two-goal lead when Darron Gibson fired home from the edge of the area after Ronaldo had struck a free-kick straight into the Derby wall.

Football Fanzone
Football fans, the chance to have YOUR say on CNN is here!

United made the game safe just three minutes after the interval when Ronaldo neatly placed his header home from Giggs' corner to make it 3-0 to the visitors.

Derby looked in danger of being over-run, but to their credit they fought back and pulled a goal back when Miles Addison was left unmarked to head home a Kris Commons free-kick.

However, any hope of a recovery was finally put to bed when substitute Danny Wellbeck curled home a delightful fourth goal with nine minutes remaining.

In the day's other fifth round clash, Everton beat high-flying Aston Villa 3-1 in a showdown between two of the most in-form sides in the country.

Everton, who lie sixth in the Premier League, took the lead in just the fourth minute when 17-year-old midfielder Jack Rodwell fired home from close-range for his first goal for the club.

However, just four minutes later, England striker Gabriel Agbonlahor sprinted into the Everton area before being fouled by defender Tony Hibbert. James Milner took the penalty and just managed to squeeze the ball under goalkeeper Tim Howard, who dived the right way.

Everton re-took the lead in the 24th minute, again from the penalty spot, when Mikel Arteta sent Brad Freidel the wrong way from the spot after Victor Anichebe had been fouled by Steve Sidwell.

There was less excitement after the interval, but Everton booked their first quarterfinal place since 2002 when Tim Cahill converted after Anichebe's cross from the left had evaded a floundering Villa defense.

  • E-mail
  • Save
  • Print