Two strikes byZlatan Ibrahimovic -which bookended a double from under-fire frontman Anthony Martial - gave Manchester United a comfortable 4-1 victory over West Ham United in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening.
Former Red Devilsstriker Ashley Fletcher threatened to cause his former employers a shock but a strong second-half display from Jose Mourinho's mensaw them reach the semi-finals of the League Cupfor the fourteenth time.
Complete chaos. No tactical shape and players already verbally going at each other. #WHUFC
United started the game at an electric pace. After the Hammers netted a goal within the first two minutes of Sunday's league meeting between the pair and the Red Devils returned the favour here.
A smart reverse pass byWayne Rooney allowedHenrik Mkhitaryan to teeup Zlatan Ibrahimovic with a clever back-heel, and the Swede did the rest, sliding the ballpast the onrushing Adrian. The Spaniard caught the United frontman with the studs of a trailing leg, and may have been lucky to escape a booking.
From there, Mourinho's men scythed through the Hammers at will. The visitors' 3-4-3 formation left plenty of space in midfield, and it seemed only a matter of time before the hosts netted a second. United should have killed the game off before the half-hour mark, with Anthony Martial and Ibrahimovic both wasting good opportunities.
On 35 minutes, United were made to pay for their profligacy. Completely against the run of play, Dimitri Payet's shot squirmed away from David de Gea, who should have dealt with the shot more efficiently -the rebound fell to Ashley Fletcher (who joined the Hammers from United in the summer)to net his first goal in eleven appearances for the club.
Uncharacteristic error by De Gea, who spills Payet's well-hit shot, and Fletcher tucks the rebound away. Totally against the run of play.
The equalising goal visibly deflated both the home fans and players. Luke Shaw picked up an injury and was replaced by Daley Blind, which only served to add to the feeling of disarray going into the second-half. However, United re-emerged with renewed vigour, and were back in the lead within three minutes of the second period.
Dimitri Payet overplayed deep inside his own half of the field, and within seconds United had the ball in the back of Adrian's net. Antonio Valencia freed Man of the MatchMkhitaryan, whoprovided his second assist of the game as he cut the ballback for Martial to rifle a strike into the top left-hand corner of the West Ham net.
It was that man Martial again - who had been openly criticised by Mourinho before last Sunday's match - who struck next to put the game beyond the Hammers, just past the hour mark. Sumptuous one-touch play between Ibrahimovic and Valencia presented the Frenchman with a chance he simply couldn't miss.
Mourinho to Rui Faria when he finds out he brought Schweinsteiger on pic.twitter.com/a9EmiozqKH
With the game won, United introduced outcast Bastian Schweinsteiger in place of Martialfor his first appearance of the season, to rapturous applause at the Theatre of Dreams. Old Trafford cheered the German's every touch and the 32-year-old - who was the last captain to lift the World Cup - nearly provided the loudest cheer of the night when he shot narrowly wide from 25 yards out.
In stoppage time, itwas Schweinsteiger who started the move that saw Ibrahimovic complete the scoring. The former Bayern Munich midfielder released Herrera, who centred for the Swedish striker to convert with a simple finish, completing an emphatic anddeserved win for Mourinho's men.
United will now face Hull City in the semi-finals, while Southampton play Liverpool.
This is how we'll line up tonight against West Ham in the EFL Cup quarter-final... #MUFC pic.twitter.com/HL01Z9r8ut
Your Hammers team to take on @ManUtd tonight...#EFLCup #COYI pic.twitter.com/8qsSuykeu3