REPORT: UNITED 1 SHEFFIELD
UNITED 0
9 January 2016 | Old Trafford | FA Cup Third Round | Scorer:
Rooney (90+3)
Manchester United booked a spot in the Emirates FA
Cup fourth round in dramatic fashion thanks to Wayne
Rooney’s injury-time winner against Sheffield United.
Louis van Gaal’s men dominated the 90 minutes but, up
until added time, could not find a way past the dogged
League One side who defended resolutely but rarely
ventured over the half-way line.
It was left to Rooney to break Blades’ hearts though
when he drilled home a 93rd-minute penalty after
substitute Memphis Depay had been fouled in the area.
Van Gaal made three changes to the side that beat
Swansea City with Matteo Darmian, Cameron
Borthwick-Jackson and Marouane Fellaini all coming
into the starting XI in place of the injured and rested
Ashley Young, Phil Jones and Morgan Schneiderlin. Van
Gaal had spoken of his desire before the game to lead
the Reds on a good run in the competition, having cited
it as the most exciting cup around. He knew getting
past Sheffield United would not be an easy task though
given the fact the Blades were unbeaten in their last
seven away FA Cup ties, winning five.
A scrappy opening 15 minutes in the driving rain was
followed by the first real bits of action at either end.
First, Blades’ Conor Sammon drew a good save from
David De Gea after some excellent control and a well-
struck drive – although referee Jonathan Moss
adjudged that Sammon had handled it. At the other end,
Rooney flicked the ball around Blades keeper George
Long but was unable to find a team-mate in the area
with Long stranded.
Rooney found himself through again 11 minutes before
the break after an incisive pass from Ander Herrera, but
Long dived at the United captain’s feet to grasp the ball.
Seconds later, Bastian Schweinsteiger went to ground in
the box under a risky challenge from Jay McEveley after
getting on the end of a Daley Blind crossfield pass, but
the referee waved away the penalty protests.
FIRST-HALF STATISTICS
Possession: United 70% Sheff Utd 30%
Shots at goal : United 3 Sheff Utd 0
Shots on target: United 0 Sheff Utd 0
Corners: United 1 Sheff Utd 1
The second half began with Fellaini in a more advanced
position behind Rooney as Herrera dropped deeper
alongside Schweinsteiger. That tactical change did little
to alter the pattern of the game or lead to some real
openings though despite United continuing to dominate
possession.
More changes for the Reds followed as van Gaal threw
on two wingers in the shape of Memphis Depay and
Jesse Lingard. Another reshuffle followed as Fellaini
returned to his original role alongside Schweinsteiger,
Lingard replaced Mata on the right and Memphis went
to the left allowing Anthony Martial to join Rooney in a
central attacking position.
Memphis took aim on 66 minutes with a fine effort
which sailed just wide but it at least gave some
encouragement to the Old Trafford faithful. Darmian
battled his way into the area soon after, but Long saved
his shot with ease, the first United effort on target of the
game.
Andreas Pereira entered the fray on with 12 minutes to
go, in place of Fellaini, as the Reds went in search of a
winner. Play was momentarily stopped following an
injury to Schweinsteiger but, thankfully, the German was
able to carry on. With four minutes left, Pereira sent in a
dangerous free-kick, but John Brayford blocked
Martial’s shot brilliantly, before Chris Smalling missed
his kick with the follow-up.
Six fully warranted minutes of injury time gave United a
bit longer to try to find a way through and the Reds duly
did after Memphis was felled by Dean Hammond in the
93rd minute. Rooney stepped up to take the spot-kick
and made no mistake to send United into round four.
The Reds will discover their next opponents in the
competition when the fourth round draw is made on
Monday evening.
FULL-TIME STATISTICS
Possession: United 71% Sheffield United 29%
Shots on goal: United 11 Sheff Utd 2
Shots on target: United 2 Sheff Utd 1
Corners: United 5 Sheff Utd 1
TEAMS
United : De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Borthwick-
Jackson, Schweinsteiger, Fellaini (Pereira 78), Herrera
(Lingard 60), Mata (Memphis 60), Martial, Rooney.
Subs: Romero, Varela, McNair, Keane.
Sheffield United : Long, Brayford, Basham, Coutts,
Sharp (Flynn 64), Collins, Woolford, Sammon (Done 92),
McEveley (Reed 78), Edgar, Hammond.
Subs : Howard,
Baxter, Campbell-Ryce, Adams.
MATCH REACTION
"At the end we got the penalty and it was a deserved
penalty because of a stray leg. Memphis had the guts to
do that [make the run to win it]. He was more or less the
matchwinner. We won the game which is the most
important thing." - Louis van Gaal
“It was difficult against a team like that who come to
defend. We tried to create chances and we kept the ball
well. We had patience and, in the end, we won and we
are now ready for the next game." - Marouane Fellaini
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