MAN U CRUSHES BARNSLEY 7-0 AS TROUBLED WINGER ANTONY SCORES FIRST GOAL THIS SEASON
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In the League Cup third round on Tuesday, Manchester United thrashed Barnsley 7-0 as Marcus Rashford scored twice to continue his comeback and troublesome winger Antony netted his first goal of the year.
While United went wild, Fulham created unwelcome history when they lost to lower-division Preston 16–15 on penalties following the longest shootout in tournament history.
United never seemed like they would pull off an upset against their third-tier opponents at Old Trafford, as they languished in 10th place in the Premier League following two losses in their opening four games.
After United’s victory over Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, Rashford, Antony, and Alejandro Garnacho all scored goals before halftime to essentially secure United’s second consecutive victory.
Rashford and Garnacho each scored again after the interval and Christian Eriksen’s double wrapped up United’s biggest win since boss Erik ten Hag arrived from Ajax in 2022.
“It is the first time this team is playing together. Once we found our patterns we scored some great goals,” Ten Hag said.
“We played with a lot of speed and were ruthless. The key was the right attitude and to be 100 percent concentrated.
“Last season was for everyone difficult, but we ended with the FA Cup. We hit our target and that is what we aim for this season, we want to progress.”
Despite promising to take the League Cup “very seriously”, Ten Hag made eight changes, with Manuel Ugarte handed his first start after the midfielder’s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain.
Ten Hag’s raft of switches were no hindrance for United as they made a flying start to their bid to win the tournament for the second time in three seasons.
The Dutchman had compared Rashford to a bottle of tomato ketchup following the player’s season-opening goal against Southampton last Saturday.
After breaking his duck last season, Ten Hag predicted Rashford would have a run of success. Rashford had struggled to score during that campaign.
In the sixteenth minute, Garnacho’s deft pass found Rashford, who cut past Marc Roberts and fired high past Barnsley goalie Gaga Slonina into the upper corner, confirming his forecast.
The 26-year-old had not scored in back-to-back games since March.
Antony was making his first start this season and the out-of-favour Brazilian international converted a 35th-minute penalty after being fouled by Slonina as he ran through on goal.
Garnacho stabbed in United’s third goal from close range in first-half stoppage time.
Garnacho netted again in the 49th minute, sprinting onto Eriksen’s pass and slotting home.
Rashford bagged his brace in the 58th minute, taking Garnacho’s pass and finishing with aplomb.
With Barnsley utterly outclassed, Eriksen steered in two clinical finishes in the 81st and 85th minutes.
At Deepdale, it took 34 penalties in total before Preston beat Fulham after their 1-1 draw.
At 15-15 in the shootout after a miss from each team, Fulham’s Timothy Castagne blazed over and Preston’s Ryan Ledson calmly netted the winner.
The previous League Cup shoot-out record was set in 2016 when Derby beat Carlisle 14-13.
Everton’s wretched start to the season showed no signs of abating after Southampton won 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.
Sean Dyche’s side, bottom of the Premier League after four consecutive defeats, took the lead through Abdoulaye Doucoure’s 20th-minute header.
But Taylor Harwood-Bellis equalised before half-time and Alex McCarthy saved Ashley Young’s penalty in the shoot-out to win it for Southampton, who have also lost all four league games this term.
Crystal Palace’s England winger Eberechi Eze scored in a 2-1 victory at his former club QPR.
Brentford survived an early scare against third-tier Leyton Orient before Fabio Carvalho’s first goal for the club inspired a 3-1 win at the Gtech Community Stadium.
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