Manchester United ease past Arsenal to qualify for the semi-finals of the FA Cup
Manchester United beat Arsenal 2-0 in the quarter final of the FA Cup at Old Trafford on Saturday evening. Fabio Da Silva and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wayne-Rooney-c36736 scored for United as they qualify for the semi-finals of the competition.
Sir Alex Ferguson made a host of changes to his starting line-up from the 3-1 defeat against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 last Sunday. Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney started upfront in a weird looking United setup. On the other hand, Arsene Wenger also made several changes to his team that lost 3-1 to Barcelona in the midweek. Robin Van Persie started as a lone forward in 4-5-1 formation.
Both teams started the game in a cautious manner, as Arsenal dominated the early possession. United came close to scoring in the 15th minute, when Fabio Da Silva shaped a perfect cross and found the head of his twin brother Rafael Da Silva, who sent it over the goal from a few yards.
The hosts opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Wayne Rooney curled a beautiful diagonal ball for Hernandez, whose powerful header was parried away by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fabio-c13152 smashed the rebound into the top of the net to make it 1-0.
The Gunner’s first real chance of the game came in the 34th minute, when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wes-Brown-c36791 but Van Der Sar again made a wonderful save to his left to deny the Gunners.
Soon after the resumption of second half, the Gunners could have equalised but Van Der Sar made a brilliant double save from Laurent Koscielny’s effort. A couple of minutes later, United doubled their advantage through Rooney’s goal. Rafael played a low pass to Hernandez which was blocked by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Johan-Djourou-c18779. The rebound was nodded into the roof of the goal by Rooney to make it 2-0 for United.
Arsenal came close to pulling one goal back when Marouane Chamakh’s header from Bacary Sagna’s pinpoint cross was magnificently saved by United’s Van Der Sar, who was having a brilliant match.
Arsenal created several clear cut goal scoring opportunities but were unable to make them count. They have been dumped out of three competitions in a fortnight.
The draws for the semi-finals will take place on Sunday, 13 March, 2011.
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