FA Cup - United saunter past Fulham

Eurosport - Sun, 08 Mar 09:29:00 2009

Carlos Tevez scored twice as Manchester United cruised into the FA Cup semi-finals with a 4-0 stroll against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

2008-2009 FA Cup Fulham-Manchester United Carlos Tevez - 0

Wayne Rooney and Park Ji-Sung claimed the other goals as United secured a comprehensive victory that keeps their hopes of a quintuple very much alive.

Tevez's second was a the pick of the bunch, a fizzing 25-yarder that effectively ended the match as a contest at 2-0 late in the first half.

Alex Ferguson picked a surprisingly strong side considering United face Internazionale in the Champions League on Wednesday then Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday - but the selection underlined his desire to fight for silverware on all fronts.

Cristiano Ronaldo sat the match out to nurse a minor injury, although United are adamant he will recover fully in time to face Inter on Wednesday.

They have a greater concern over Rio Ferdinand, who struggled through the latter stages of the first half before he was taken off at the break.

John O'Shea also went off as a precaution, clutching his hamstring. Should the injury be significant, it would leave United without a recognised right-back for the visit of Inter.

Tevez has suffered a difficult season, losing his first-team place to Dimitar Berbatov and scoring only three Premier League goals.

But he looked in the mood early on as he forced a magnificent save from Mark Schwarzer in the third minute.

An uncharacteristic slip by Brede Hangeland gifted possession to Rooney, who fed Tevez and the Argentinian's goalbound shot was tipped behind brilliantly by the Australian goalkeeper, diving full-stretch to his right.

Fulham showed signs of life, as Andy Johnson latched on to a long ball from Simon Davies and knocked the ball past Edwin van der Sar, only for Nemanja Vidic to clear off the line.

Then Clint Dempsey tested the former Fulham keeper Van der Sar with a header after beating O'Shea in the air.

But, just as Fulham began to harbour genuine hopes of an upset, they were hit with a classic sucker punch in the 20th minute.

A United corner found Rooney, who directed a looping header towards the back post and Tevez nodded in from close range.

Rooney then attempted a 50-yard shot that dropped just over the bar, and inexplicably shot wide off the base of the post when Park presented him with a near-open goal eight yards out.

The second goal was not long in coming and when it arrived, 10 minutes before the break, it was a cracker; Tevez weaving his way into shooting position as Fulham back off and firing a fierce shot that dipped past Schwarzer and into the right corner from 25 yards.

Johnson nearly caught Ferdinand out, when played through by Zamora, but in making his recovery the England defender suffered the tweak that saw him removed from the fray.

Rooney grabbed his goal five minutes into the second period as United toyed with their hosts, playing short balls around the edge of the Fulham box. Needing just half a yard to get a shot away, Rooney curled the ball accurately into the bottom-right corner, leaving the unsighted Schwarzer a spectator.

Park brought another fine save by Schwarzer with a low left-foot drive, but by that point it was game over.

Ferguson brought off Rooney, while Roy Hodgson rested Danny Murphy, Johnson and Zamora for the final half-hour.

Park added the final touch, cutting inside Hughes and finishing low into the right corner from the edge of the box with 10 minutes remaining.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 121 - 140 of 140

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  1. MAN UTD R THE BEST

    From mshayya, on Tue 10 Mar 5:41PM

  2. what a game
    i hope Park continues his great form this­ season
    Park is really a good player.
    He might lack in­ skills and goals, but he really is a hard worker and­ should get more credit.
    well done Park

    From mshayya, on Tue 10 Mar 4:01PM

  3. Man U are on top now... in the past they've been­ relegated.. some time in the future it'll happen­ again... such are the ways of the game.

    From Paul, on Mon 9 Mar 4:22PM

  4. glory glory man united , barcelona who the @#$%­ barcelona poor c.unt cant even spell

    From jamesm watp, on Mon 9 Mar 1:58PM

  5. igwe g, P L O N K E R ,

    From Taffy G, on Sun 8 Mar 8:57PM

  6. #132 & #120

    BARCALONA ARE THE BEST TEAM IN THE­ WORLD AT THE MOMENT.

    From Jamie M, on Sun 8 Mar 5:06PM

  7. go go go with the

    flow mojo... all im­ sayin is EVERTON FC FA.CUP WINNERS 2009.. FACT

    From Jasoptimum851, on Sun 8 Mar 3:04PM

  8. Please excuse DAZMANUTD posting unpleasant things about­ your very own Roger Cuthbert Alcock.but his mother is a­ well known prostitute and I just happend to be passing­ her house with a 50p piece in my pocket.Poor lad just­ cannot get over the fact that his own mother can­ prostitute herself to non manure supporters,but as his­ father the pimp tells him, business is business!

    From Nicholas, on Sun 8 Mar 1:13PM

  9. lots of jealousy and envy for the boys its hard being­ as good as us and hated oh how it fires us up to beat­ everyone thanks haters you really make sure our boys go­ out to shut you up and win ha ha were the best and your­ teams not you losers

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 8 Mar 12:22PM

  10. igwe.g your a plantpot who knows nothing about football­ sent off for what another united hater to add to the­ list will your team not win anything because of us­ being so good is that why you dont like us .were the­ best get used to it your team should step up a gear and­ provide a challenge to us its not our fault your not on­ our level haters i despise them .losers

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 8 Mar 12:19PM

  11. How much did Man U pay the referee. Rooney deserved a­ red card

    From Godwin, on Sun 8 Mar 12:04PM

  12. In manUtd, everyone has something worthwhile to­ do.
    Look
    1. Sir Alex only wont retire
    2. Players beat­ yours
    3. Staff strategize
    4. Owners shut up
    5. The fans­ do the rest
    i.e.
    i) Boo other teams
    ii) ­ Buy products
    iii) drink beer, sing chants, form forums­ and use money

    And the men of manchester united man­ you, you and you also.

    From Majoser, on Sun 8 Mar 9:57AM

  13. Lets close the forum now, my manchampionster united­ fans, we've to remind these little rats that its­ only manutd who's won the most.
    1. Premier league­ crowns
    2. FA cups
    3. Anything else
    4. Everything
    5.­ Pooooosh.

    Remind the others that we shall continue to­ man all other fans and they manure themselves.

    From Majoser, on Sun 8 Mar 9:49AM
  14. Comment hidden due to it's low rating. Show

    Football has just become a big business. It's not a­ real sport any more. Big money for men to play for few­ years. What's happening to that which was once a­ sport? Support the local team?? Most of them are­ foreigners. Gone are the days of local teams.
    But­ that's the way of the world. Buy­ Buy！　Ｍｏ&­ ;#65358;ｅｙ　&#65325­ ;ｏｎｅｙ&#­ 12288;Ｍｏｎｅ&­ amp;#65369;！
    Ｔａ&#6­ 5355;ｅ　ｃａ&a­ mp;#65362;ｅ
    ＧＯ&#65­ 333;ＲＡＮＧ&am­ p;#65313;　ＧＯ&#6533­ 3;ＲＡＮＧ&­ #65313;　ＧＯＵ­ ＲＡＮＧ&#6­ 5313;

    From Kusum Sraman Swami M, on Sun 8 Mar 9:08AM

  15. I think that on 14. of march will be the decicive game.­ The game will be very close. In my opinion it`s going­ to be dificult for both team`s because Man U are a good­ team and also Liverpool are a good team. I respect Man­ U, and i know if they keep playing this well they will­ win the title, but it`s going too be dificult for both.­ And Torres and Gerrard will be on top of they form.

    From Tinemodafooking, on Sun 8 Mar 8:54AM

  16. #125. Absolute eloquence, I rest my case.
    What a pity­ such a great team has such supporters. Norven Primate.

    From El-Tony., on Sun 8 Mar 8:49AM

  17. rcnocock spends his saturday nights on the yahoo pages­ as his mummy wont let him out on his own as he @#$% his­ pants last time he gets nervous when strangers­ proposition him you think he would be used to it by now­ the rentboy

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 8 Mar 8:48AM

  18. rcnocock would like to announce is forthcoming marriage­ to michael barrymore as he now enjoys being fisted and­ shafted like liverpool ha ha what a muppet rcnocock is­ back on the united pages spouting his drivel didnt you­ go out on saturday to perform tricks you rentboy man­ united for 5 trophies get used to it you necrophiliac

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 8 Mar 8:46AM

  19. rcnocock would like to announce is forthcoming marriage­ to michael barrymore as he now enjoys being fisted and­ shafted like liverpool ha ha what a muppet rcnocock is­ back on the united pages spouting his drivel didnt you­ go out on saturday to perform tricks you rentboy man­ united for 5 trophies get used to it you necrophiliac

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 8 Mar 8:46AM

  20. rcnocock is a jealous little man united hater who takes­ it up the batty he gets nervous when girls talk to him­ as he as never had sex before except with men he likes­ dead ones he is a grave robbing necrophiliac bumboy­ loser ha ha

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 8 Mar 8:45AM
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