Manchester United secured a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals, where they will face arch-rivals Liverpool, thanks to Casemiro’s 89th-minute winner against Nottingham Forest.
The Brazilian midfielder flicked home Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick to break the deadlock in a closely contested match at Old Trafford.
Casemiro’s decisive goal came after a prolonged Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check for a potential offside in the build-up.
CASEEEEEE 🇧🇷
The Brazilian puts it all on the line to give @ManUtd a late lead!#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/FrNtI56wEa
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 28, 2024
The victory provides some relief for under-pressure manager Erik ten Hag, who is keen to mark his second season with a trophy.
Casemiro was HYPED following his late winner for @ManUtd in the #EmiratesFACup fifth round 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4mQBye8ziH
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 29, 2024
Despite Forest creating sporadic chances and testing United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana, they couldn’t find the breakthrough. This win preserves United’s only remaining chance at silverware this season, with Ten Hag acknowledging the team’s consistency.
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“We lost one time in 2024. We are consistent,” said Ten Hag. “Every win is important. We take it for 24 hours and then we move on. [We have] fantastic games coming up.”
United, who were missing Harry Maguire due to a suspected knee injury, will now face Manchester City in a crucial Premier League clash on Sunday, seeking to avenge their defeat in last season’s FA Cup final.
Meanwhile, the prospect of a quarter-final clash between Manchester United and Liverpool adds extra intrigue to the FA Cup competition, as both historic rivals aim to progress further and compete for the trophy. Liverpool will be entering the match with confidence following their recent Carabao Cup triumph over Chelsea.