Manchester United manager José Mourinho was a happy man after the Red Devils defeated Huddersfield 2-0 in the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup at John Smith. Romelu Lukaku scored twice as United overcame the stubborn Terriers to book a place in the quart final.
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United were denied two times in the game, first on the stroke of half time by the Video Assistant Referee, VAR, which made its debut in the FA Cup, and Nemanja Matic’s second half strike was ruled out for offside.
United manager, Mourinho, believes his side were in control of the encounter, despite the total dominance of the of their hosts on the ball.
“With that second goal in the second half, I think we killed the game and, from that moment, we were in control,” he said. “We knew that it would be difficult. It was hard but we started really well.
Mourinho made six changes to the team that lost at Newcastle United last weekend, with Paul Pogba totally missing out due to an illness.
It was the third time both sides were meeting this season, with the visitors already beaten by their hosts.
The Terriers started the brightest, but it was United who raced to an early lead after Lukaku latched on to a Juan Mata through ball to put his side ahead after just three minutes.
The home side were better and more confident, as they dominated possession but were unable really test Sergio Romero in goal for United.
Just before the break, Mata doubled United’s advantage after he rounded the goalkeeper, following an excellent play from the right by Ashley Young.
However, his joy was short lived, as his goal was ruled out by the VAR for offside with United going into the break with a marrow advantage.
The home side continued from where they stopped in the first half, dominant on the ball, as United struggled all through the game.
But ten minutes after the restart, United finally doubled their lead, Lukaku again, who put through by Alexis Sanchez following a brilliant counter attacking move by United, and the Belgian calmly tucked home his second of the game.
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United held on for the win, which sees them through to the quarter finals of the competition they last won three seasons ago.
Meanwhile, the draw for the quarter finals of the FA Cup has been concluded, with United drawn against Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford.
Premier League champions, Chelsea, will face a difficult game at the King Power, after they were drawn against Leicester City, while winner of the game between Manchester City and Wigan will face Southampton at home.
FA Cup Quarter-final draws:
Swansea City/Sheffield Utd vs Rochdale/Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Leicester City vs Chelsea
Wigan/Man City vs Southampton.
Games to be played on the weekend of 16th to 19th March.
