- OOJ - Manchester United's English midfielder Tom Cleverley (R) reacts as he leaves the pitch after the English FA Cup third round football match between Manchester United and Swansea City (AFP)
FA Cup third round, Old Trafford - Manchester United 1 (Hernandez 16) Swansea City 2 (Routledge 13, Bony 90)
Swansea secured their first ever victory at Old Trafford, knocking 10-man Manchester United out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win.
Wayne Routledge opened the scoring just before the quarter hour mark before Javier Hernandez equalised three minutes later. Second-half substitute Fabio was sent off moments after being introduced asSwansea sensed victory. And the day went from bad to worse for United as Wilfried Bony grabbed a 90th minute winner to increase the pressure on under-fire manager David Moyes.
The match started well for the hosts who should have taken the lead as Danny Welbeck picked out Hernandez after a silky run. A pinpoint pass found the Mexican six yards from goal, but, uncharacteristically, he somehow skewed his shot wide.
United were made to pay for the error just seconds later as Swansea opened the scoring. The visitors moved the ball well through their midfield, allowing for Alejandro Pozuelo to pick out the run of Routledge who had pulled away from Jonny Evans. The winger took the ball in his stride before delicately lofting the ball over the onrushing Anders Lindegaard.
The lead lasted just three minutes, however, as Hernandez made up for his earlier miss. Dutch full-back Alex Buttner ventured down the left and whipped in a devilish ball that flashed across the face of the six yard box. The pace and flight of the ball deceived Chico Flores, but not the United striker who tapped in from close range.
The home side continued to struggle breaking down their Premier League counterparts, and were dealt another blow when Rio Fedinand was forced off with an injury. Moyes was made to shuffle his pack as Brazilian full-back Fabio was introduced, though the youngster lasted just a couple of minutes as he was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Jose Canas.
Unsurprisingly, United were stretched during the final minutes, with the visitors attacking in numbers. The hosts were just moments away from clinging onto a draw until Routledge crossed for Bony who powered in a header from close range to send Swansea into the fourth round.
KEY MOMENTS
PRE-MATCH - Manchester United forced to start with Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez with both Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie injured.
13’ – HERNANDEZ SHOULD SCORE: Welbeck, trades a one-two with Kagawa before crossing for Hernandez. The Mexican should score from six yards, but takes a swipe at the ball and misses the target.
13’ – GOAL: Swansea take the lead, and what a finish that is, too. A lovely passing move sends Routledge through on goal. Under pressure from Smalling, the winger clips the ball over the onrushing Lindegaard from 18 yards. 0-1!!
16’ – GOAL: It’s all level at Old Trafford. Hernandez pulls away from Chico Flores to get on the end of Buttner’s marvellous cross and finish from six yards. Simple.
31’ – CHANCE: De Guzman opts to take the free-kick. He opts for placement rather than power, catching it well but the effort is too central and is easily gathered by Lindegaard.
81’ – RED CARD: Fabio is shown a straight red card. The full-back, who has been on the pitch just a matter of minutes, flies into a challenge with Canas – with studs raised – and catches the Spaniard. That is not what Moyes wanted.
90’ – BONY GRABS THE WINNER: Swansea take the lead. It was coming... Routledge gets the better of Fletcher to clip a delightful ball onto the edge of the six-yard box. Bony rises highest to power a header beyond Lindegaard.
KEY STATS
Swansea claimed their first ever win at Old Trafford
Swansea haven’t lost a game from a winning position this season
It is just the second time Manchester United have been knocked out of the third round in 29 years – the famous defeat to Leeds in 2010 the other occasion
TALKING POINT - How much more time will Moyes be given at United? Manchester United are not a club to make snap decisions. David Moyes was brought in and given a six-year deal and is sure to be given time to put his own stamp on things with the current Premier League champions. But, time and time again this season his side have been humiliated, and they now are left fighting on just two fronts - the League Cup and the Champions League. Similar defeats to this, however, will test the United hierarchy's patience.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Chico Flores, Swansea – The Swansea centre-half was, undoubtedly, the best player on the pitch. Solid at the heart of the visitors defence, the Spaniard marshalled his troops and put himself on a number of occasions throughout the duration of the match.
PLAYER RATINGS
Manchester United: Lindegaard 6; Smalling 7, Evans , Ferdinand 6, Büttner 7; Valencia 6, Fletcher 7, Cleverley 6, Kagawa 6; Welbeck 6, Hernandez 7.
Subs: Fabio 3, Januzaj 5
Swansea City: Tremmel 6; Tiendalli 6, Amat 7, Chico Flores 8, Taylor 6; Britton 7, de Guzman 7, Shelvey 6, Pozuelo 6, Routledge 7; Bony 7.
Subs: Canas 6, Vazquez 6
THE MATCH IN A TWEET
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