Manchester United Survive Newport County Scare, Win 4-2 in FA Cup Fourth Round
On a chilly evening in Newport, Wales, twelve-time FA Cup winners Manchester United found themselves embroiled in an unexpectedly tense battle against spirited fourth-tier Welsh side Newport County. Despite an early lead and seemingly comfortable advantage, the Red Devils were pushed to their limits before eventually securing a hard-fought 4-2 victory.
A Tale of Two Halves
The match began brightly for Manchester United, with Portuguese maestro Bruno Fernandes putting them ahead in just the eighth minute. Fernandes coolly dispatched a penalty after Anthony Elanga was brought down in the box, sending the ball confidently into the back of the net.
United doubled their lead in the 31st minute through 18-year-old academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo, who marked his first start for the club with a well-taken goal. Mainoo displayed great composure to control a long pass from Victor Lindelof before slotting the ball past Newport goalkeeper Nick Townsend, sending the traveling United fans into raptures.
However, the hosts refused to lie down and pulled one back just before halftime through Bryn Morris. The Welsh winger capitalized on a defensive error from Diogo Dalot to rifle a shot into the bottom corner, igniting the home crowd and giving Newport a lifeline.
Newport continued to push forward in the second half, buoyed by the raucous support of their home crowd. Their efforts were rewarded with an equalizer in the 58th minute when Will Evans nodded home a free-kick from Jamie Devitt, sending Rodney Parade into a frenzy and leveling the score at 2-2.
Antony Rescues United
With the game hanging in the balance and the upset looming large, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag turned to his bench for inspiration. He brought on Brazilian winger Antony, who had been struggling for form since his big-money move from Ajax in the summer.
Antony repaid his manager’s faith in him with a stunning goal in the 68th minute. The 22-year-old picked up the ball on the right wing, drove past Newport defender Cameron Norman with ease, and unleashed a powerful shot into the top corner, restoring United’s lead and sending the traveling fans into a frenzy.
Newport’s Fightback Falls Short
Newport continued to battle valiantly, but they were unable to find another goal. United added a fourth in injury time through substitute Rasmus Hojlund, who tapped in from close range after good work from Antony, sealing the victory for the Red Devils.
Reaction from Both Camps
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was relieved to see his team progress to the fifth round, but he acknowledged that they had made things difficult for themselves.
“We controlled the game, maybe we went a little bit slower,” ten Hag told the BBC. “We had the chance to go 3-0. [Alejandro] Garnacho hit the crossbar. [Newport] had nothing, really nothing and then they scored a goal.”
“Obviously it was not the result that we wanted, we got the win that we wanted but the result was not the perfect one for us. We didn’t want to concede goals,” said United captain Bruno Fernandes.
Newport manager Graham Coughlan was proud of his team’s performance, despite the defeat.
“The best team won, they were clinical when they got their chances,” Coughlan told the BBC. “At 2-2 the ball comes off the post and it fell to Antony. I did think at 2-2 we could possibly force a replay if we could weather the storm. Class saw them through.”
Conclusion
Manchester United’s victory over Newport County was a tale of two halves. They dominated the first half and could have been out of sight by halftime. However, they allowed Newport back into the game with two sloppy goals in the second half.
In the end, United’s superior quality shone through, and they were able to secure a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup. However, they will need to improve their defensive performance if they want to go all the way in the competition.