Manchester United progress after
Javier Hernandez' late goal
Manchester United entered the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup on Tuesday after Sir Alex Ferguson's team overcame Wolverhampton Wanderers with a late winner from substitute Javier Hernandez.
After being on the pitch for just eight minutes, the in-form striker grabbed the goal that sealed the win at 3–2 after Bebe and Ji-Sung Park scored a goal each for United. Wolves had managed to equalise
twice in the second half, but Hernandez' strike cancelled out George Elokobi and Kevin Foley's efforts.
"It's obviously early days for him but he's made a really good impression at the club," United striker Michael Owen, currently on the sidelines with an injury, told BBC Radio 5 live about Hernandez' start
at United. "He's quick, sharp and a good finisher. He's just moved to a new country but he's got a smile on his face and the fans have taken to him already."
Dull first half
Both teams showed offensive intent in the first half. Strikers Bebe and Gabriel Obertan looked particularly lively, but the first 45 minutes came to a close with neither team having managed a shot on target.
After the break, it took United 11 minutes to get in front. In a quick counter-attack, Bebe was fed the ball on the right wing. The Portuguese broke down the right side of the box and hit a chipped cross
that deflected off Elokobi and narrowly crossed the goal line.
Elokobi made amends for United's first goal only three minutes later, when he rose highest at a Wolves corner to head the ball into an unguarded net.
In the 70th minute, Park picked up the ball in the Wolves half, sped past a few defenders and played in Federico Macheda on the edge of the box. The Italian's control failed him, but Park recovered quickly
to get the ball back and hit a left-footed strike into the near corner.
Mick McCarthy's side were soon back on level terms, when Steven Fletcher's neat assist found Foley in the box. The right back let the ball run across his body before finishing in Edwin van der Sar's far
corner to, once again, instill hopes of progressing.
But, as he did against Stoke City on Sunday, 24 October, Hernandez had the last say in the game.
The speedy striker made a perfectly timed run down the middle, latching onto Michael Carrick's through ball before skipping past a defender and hitting a left-footed shot that found the net after hitting
goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey on its way in.
Ferguson's team will be handed a quarter-final opponent in the draw that takes place on Saturday, 30 October.
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