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Red Devils rebound; Gunners also prevail

Comment: 0 October 26th, 2011 by: admin

MANCHESTER United got some relief after their 1-6 drubbing from Manchester City by trouncing minnows Aldershot to reach the quarterfinals of the League Cup on Tuesday.

Coming into the fixture still reeling from that devastating drubbing they got at Old Trafford, the Red Devils made it sure their lowly rivals from the fourth tier of English football won’t yield the upset axe against them.

Sir Alex Ferguson used a different combination in posting the triumph with Nemanja Vidic captaining the squad, Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov combining in attack, and midfielder Tom Cleverly making his first appearance after a six-week absence due to injury.

The Red Devils went to work early on as Berbatov (15^th minute) and Owen (41^st) up to put the favoured visitors ahead 2-0 before Antonio Valencia wrapped it up with a brace in the 48th.

In another fourth round tussle, South Korean striker Park Chu-Young, in just his second start since being acquired from Monaco last August, lifted Arsenal past Bolton 2-1.

Park’s superb winner, a curling strike in the 56^th minute,  also sent the Gunners into the last eight stage.

Because of his eye-catching feat at the Emirates Stadium, Park was deemed by manager Arsene Wenger as ready to make his Premier League debut.

The added firepower from the 26-year-old South Korean gave Wenger an added boost after they struggled early this season following the exits of star midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

Fabrice Muamba, a former Arsenal trainee, pushed Bolton up just after the break before midfielder Andrei Arshavin levelled the count shortly before Park’s fixture-clinching goal.

The League Cup offers the Gunners their best shot to lift a major trophy since 2005 but Wenger sent a virtual reserve starting 11 against Bolton. Wenger made 11 changes to the side who scuttled Stoke 3-1 in the Premier League.

In other games, Welsh side Cardiff downed Burnley 1-0 at Cardiff City Stadium, to likewise earn a quarterfinals seat, while Crystal Palace also advanced after shocking Championship pacesetters Southampton 2-0 at Selhurst Park.

The remaining fourth-round meetings will be held Wednesday, with league last-placers Blackburn taking on unbeaten Newcastle, Everton clashing with Chelsea, Stoke facing Liverpool and league pacesetters Manchester City visiting the Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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