2019-20 FA Cup: Third Round Report – II

Juan Mata’s goal against Wolverhampton helped Manchester United progress into the 4th round of the Emirates 2019-20 FA Cup in a Wednesday night clash at the Old Trafford. The fixture was a third-round replay of the match that had ended in a 0-0 stalemate between these two at the Molineux stadium a week ago. The visiting Wolves nearly go into the lead after 10 minutes when a poor pass from Fred bounced off Nemanja Matic and Raul Jimenez won a challenge with United defender Harry Maguire, but the ball hit Jimenez on the hand before Pedro Neto put it into the net. The VAR (Video-Assisted-Referee) intervened to disallow the goal. Juan Mata and James both went close to breaking the deadlock and Matt Doherty hit the woodwork as the first half ended goalless at Old Trafford. Mata eventually got the Red Devils the breakthrough they needed in the 67th minute to put Solskjaer’s side 1-0 up when a long ball over the top caused chaos inside the Wolves box and Anthony Martial was able to play in the Spaniard who coolly chipped the ball over Wolves reserve goalkeeper John Ruddy. For United one of the major concerns was to see Marcus Rashford limping off the pitch injured in the second half ahead of the weekend’s critical Premier League clash with Liverpool.

Meanwhile Cardiff City, eliminated from the last season’s Premier League after being relegated, beat Carlisle in a third-round replay to reach the 4th round. Nathan Thomas gave Carlisle the early lead in the 7th minute at Brunton Park, but the visitors from Cardiff hit back hard and were 1-3 up by half-time, courtesy goals from Aden Flint and a double strike from Josh Murphy. Carlisle striker Harry McKirdy made it 2-3 in the 51st minute but Danny Ward’s fine turn and finish immediately gave Cardiff a two-goal advantage. The most the hosts could do was bring the margin to 3-4 after that again through a McKirdy goal in the 64th minute.

Tottenham beat Middlesbrough 2-1 with an early goal coming from their Argentine reserve Giovani Lo Celso coming inside two minutes of play commencing. The Spurs now have made their 13th Round of 4 entry out of the last 14 seasons and have set themselves up for a clash with Southampton.

Newcastle achieved one of their rare Round 4 FA Cup entries when they overcame third-tier club Rochdale 4-1. The relief for the Magpies was that their two expensive South American acquisitions Miguel Almiron and Joelinton hit form with goals after almost twenty-games of goal droughts. Eoghan O’Connell and Matty Longstaff were the other two to have found the back of the net for the Magpies. Newcastle now meet Oxford in the next round.

Third-level Shrewsbury Town edged out Bristol City 1-0 on the back of defender Aaron Pierre’s 89th minute long-range effort to set up a clash with current Premier league leaders Liverpool in the 4th round while Manchester United get ready to receive the winners of the game between Watford & Tranmere which has been postponed to the 24^th.

The 4^th-round line-up of knock-out clashes are as follows and will be played between dates January 24th to 27^th.