Manchester United defeated Charlton Athletic 3-0 to secure their spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Tuesday night.
The Red Devils made wholesale changes as the likes of Scott McTominay, Anthony Elanga and Harry Maguire were brought back. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes missed out through suspension and Jadon Sancho was not in the squad altogether for United.
Erik ten Hag's charges had a bright start as Alejandro Garnacho threatened in the early exchanges, with strikes that flashed just past the post.
It took a moment of individual brilliance for United to take the lead midway through the first stanza after Antony curled a wonderful low shot into the bottom corner after receiving a pass from Fred on the edge of the box.
The Red Devils were forced into a change ten minutes before the interval after Diogo Dalot went off the pitch limping and he was replaced by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Fred came very close to making it 2-0 for United just after that from a dead-ball on the edge of the box after he curled his shot well over the wall with pace but his effort came off the post.
Ten Hag's men were quick off the blocks in the second stanza as Antony almost doubled their lead ten minutes in with a diagonal strike from the edge of the box that flashed agonizingly wide.
The Dutch mentor eventually needed fresh legs in midfield and in attack around the hour-mark, as Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford were all brought in.
The performance levels of the home side increase as Garnacho had a glorious chance five minutes later to all but settle the encounter after going clear on goal but his curling shot was thwarted by the out-stretched save of goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer.
Charlton remained in the game and were a threat on transitions but their final ball let them down, as goalkeeper Tom Heaton was well protected by the likes of Maguire and Lisandro Martinez in the heart of defence.
United's quality was evident when they went forward and Eriksen came close to burying the game six minutes before time with a low first-time shot in the box that produced a reflex save from Maynard-Brewer.
Rashford eventually put the game to bed for United in the last minute with a strike past Maynard-Brewer at the near post after a through ball by substitute Facundo Pellistri.
There was still time for United to put the icing on the cake as Rashford made it 3-0 in stoppage time with another finish to complete his brace, as the Red Devils sealed their spot in the semi-finals.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
Click here to register: Sign In