FA Cup: Bruno Fernandes’ stunner sends Manchester United through
A stunning Bruno Fernandes free-kick was enough to send Manchester United through to the fifth round of the FA Cup after beating Liverpool 3-2 in a thrilling encounter.
Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the 18th minute after a clever movement from Roberto Firmino, who dropped off the front and hit a pinpoint pass into the Egyptian, whose chipped the ball beautifully over Dean Henderson.
However, moments later the ball found Marcus Rashford as United broke and as Salah backed off, he turned infield and lifted a 40-yard diagonal to pass Mason Greenwood on the right, the ball barely missing James Milner’s head. Greenwood fired the ball into the back of the next giving Alisson no chance.
Three minutes into the second half United showed ruthlessness on the counter-attack. Edinson Cavani tapped to Greenwood and his through ball found Rashford. The striker calmly put the ball past the goalkeeper.
The home side were in the ascendancy, but contributed to Liverpool’s second, just before the hour. Henderson fed a goal-kick to Maguire, who found Cavani in midfield, but he carelessly gave possession to Milner. The ball went left to Firmino, his delivery was dummied by an on-running Milner, and Salah made no mistake.
Sadio Mané was introduced for Georginio Wijnaldum, a move Solskjær answered by swapping Donny Van de Beek and Greenwood for Fred and Fernandes.
As the encounter entered the late stages, Cavani won a free-kick under Fabinho’s challenge and up stepped Fernandes. He drilled home a stunning free-kick for his 16th goal of the season, giving the hosts the lead in the 78th minute.
No stopping Bruno Fernandes
