A glorious rainbow provided a fitting backdrop to West Ham United's last FA Cup tie at Upton Park but Manchester United ended a momentous evening hinting at a brighter future after reaching the semi-finals with a 2-1 victory.
Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - FA Cup Quarter Final Replay - Upton Park - 13/4/16
Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Marouane Fellaini celebrate winning after the match
Reuters / Toby Melville
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Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - FA Cup Quarter Final Replay - Upton Park - 13/4/16
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal and Wayne Rooney shake hands as they celebrate winning after the match
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Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - FA Cup Quarter Final Replay - Upton Park - 13/4/16
Marcus Rashford celebrates with teammates after scoring the first goal for Manchester United
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Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - FA Cup Quarter Final Replay - Upton Park - 13/4/16
West Ham's Andy Carroll looks dejected after the match
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Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - FA Cup Quarter Final Replay - Upton Park - 13/4/16
Manchester United's Wayne Rooney is substituted on for Marcus Rashford
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Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - FA Cup Quarter Final Replay - Upton Park - 13/4/16
James Tomkins celebrates with teammates after scoring the first goal for West Ham
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Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - FA Cup Quarter Final Replay - Upton Park - 13/4/16
James Tomkins scores the first goal for West Ham
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Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - FA Cup Quarter Final Replay - Upton Park - 13/4/16
Marcus Rashford scores the first goal for Manchester United
Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley
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Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - FA Cup Quarter Final Replay - Upton Park - 13/4/16
West Ham's Andy Carroll shoots at goal
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Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - FA Cup Quarter Final Replay - Upton Park - 13/4/16
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
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LONDON: A glorious rainbow provided a fitting backdrop to West Ham
United's last FA Cup tie at Upton Park but Manchester United ended a
momentous evening hinting at a brighter future after reaching the
semi-finals with a 2-1 victory.
Much-maligned all season and in grave danger of missing out
on Champions League qualification after a drubbing at Tottenham Hotspur,
United returned to the capital to produce one of their most vibrant
displays of a poor campaign.
Teenager Marcus Rashford broke the deadlock with a sensational
curling shot after 54 minutes before Marouane Fellaini's close-range
effort sent United's 5,000-strong travelling fans barmy.
James Tomkins's header set up a nerve-jangling finale as
West Ham threw the kitchen sink at David de Gea's goal but Andy Carroll
headed a glorious chance over and the Spanish keeper produced heroics to
repel a late onslaught.
"I saw the gap in the corner and shouted 'shoot' and he did, but it's
more difficult than you think," United manager Louis van Gaal, who
introduced England skipper Wayne Rooney as a late substitute after a
knee injury, told reporters of Rashford's goal.
"I said I wanted a title and I am very happy but, it's not
about me, it is very important for the club," added the Dutchman whose
side will face Everton in a Wembley semi-final.
The atmosphere was electric as West Ham kicked off their
155th and final FA Cup tie at the 112-year-old Boleyn ground, which they
will leave for the gleaming Olympic Stadium next season, but after an
opening burst the Hammers fell flat.
West Ham talisman Dimitri Payet struggled to conjure any
magic and a tired-looking London side were tormented by Rashford, Jesse
Lingard and Anthony Martial as United's slick passing took its toll.
Manager Slaven Bilic made no excuses for his side's first home defeat since August in the quarter-final replay.
"They were better tonight in the majority of the game. We
had energy and commitment but they were killing us with ball
possession," Bilic said.
"Apart from the first 15 minutes and final 20 they were the better side."
United, whose 11th FA Cup victory came 12 years ago,
weathered an early storm and began to pick through West Ham with ominous
regularity.
West Ham keeper Darren Randolph saved from Fellaini and
Lingard before halftime, but he was a mere spectator as Rashford broke
the deadlock.
Played in by Martial, the 18-year-old Rashford left Tomkins
for dead on the edge of the area before finding the top right-hand
corner with a sumptuous shot for his sixth goal for United.
Fellaini was rewarded for an industrious display when he deflected in Martial's driven cross to double the lead.
When Tomkins headed in for West Ham, United came under a
ferocious aerial assault but Carroll headed over and De Gea made a
brilliant double save to deny Cheikhou Kouyate and Carroll.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
- Reuters
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