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Sports Desk: Manchester United will face bitter rivals Manchester City in the League Cup semi-finals after a dramatic 2-0 win at Everton, while Tottenham joined them in the last four with victory against Stoke on Wednesday.<\/p>\nSports Desk: Manchester United will face bitter rivals Manchester City in the League Cup semi-finals after a dramatic 2-0 win at Everton, while Tottenham joined them in the last four with victory against Stoke on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
United dominated for long periods of their quarter-final at Goodison Park, but it took until the 88th minute before Edinson Cavani broke the deadlock.<\/p>\n
The former Paris Saint-Germain striker\u2019s fourth goal for United since joining on a free transfer in October came at the same venue where he opened his account for the club last month.<\/p>\n
Anthony Martial bagged United\u2019s second goal in stoppage time.<\/p>\n
\u201cCavani\u2019s finish wasn\u2019t bad! He is a quality striker. We know when we defend well we have got players to win us the game,\u201d United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe spirit in the camp is good and this will give us a boost going into the Christmas period.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a rocky period that raised questions about Solskjaer\u2019s future following their exit from the Champions League, United have recovered their equilibrium.<\/p>\n
They are third in the Premier League and have won their last three matches in all competitions.<\/p>\n
United last lifted silverware when they won the Europa League in 2017.<\/p>\n
Solskjaer, who won nine major trophies as a player with United, took charge at Old Trafford in 2018 and saw his side lose in three semi-finals last term.<\/p>\n
He now has a chance to go one better this season after United were drawn to face holders City in the last four.<\/p>\n
United were beaten by City at the same stage of the competition last season and Solskjaer said: \u201cWe are in the semi-finals, so we are one step away.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is the worst game to lose, a semi-final. We are going to do everything we can to get to that game in a good state.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tottenham and second-tier Brentford will meet in the other semi-final, with the matches to be played over one leg in the week commencing January 4.<\/p>\n
Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes were the only United players to retain their places after the 6-2 rout of Leeds at the weekend, with Paul Pogba returning to the starting line-up.<\/p>\n
With just two minutes left before a penalty shoot-out, Martial slipped a pass to Cavani, who drove a superb strike past Everton goalkeeper Robin Olsen from the edge of the area.<\/p>\n
Martial then slotted home with virtually the last kick.<\/p>\n
Cavani\u2019s goal came after he had flicked a hand in Yerry Mina\u2019s face earlier in the match, but there was no VAR available to potentially punish him.<\/p>\n
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti said: \u201cThe rules were that VAR was not in this game, if the referee decided that Cavani didn\u2019t do anything wrong we have to accept it. Full stop.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2013 Alli blasted \u2013<\/p>\n
Jose Mourinho accused Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli of creating \u201cproblems\u201d for his own team during their 3-1 win against Stoke.<\/p>\n
Wales forward Gareth Bale made the most of a rare start to put Mourinho\u2019s team ahead at the Bet365 Stadium.<\/p>\n
But Alli was at fault when his flamboyant flick was intercepted in the build-up to Jordan Thompson\u2019s equaliser for Stoke.<\/p>\n
Alli\u2019s latest mistake drew an angry response on the touchline from Mourinho, who rebuked the star before substituting him minutes later.<\/p>\n
Ben Davies put Tottenham back in front with his first goal since 2017 before England captain Harry Kane sealed Spurs\u2019 place in the semi-finals.<\/p>\n
But it was Alli\u2019s public dressing-down that took the spotlight, with the England international\u2019s wretched season hitting a new low in his first start since November 26.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, for me a player that plays in that position is a player that has to link and create and not to create problems for his own team,\u201d said Mourinho, who has exiled Alli for long periods this season amid talk of a move to Paris Saint-Germain.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn that situation, an objective counter-attack would probably end with a goal, and it ended with a counter-attack behind our defenders. So yes, I am upset.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sports Desk: Manchester United will face bitter rivals Manchester City in the League Cup semi-finals after a dramatic 2-0 win at Everton, while Tottenham joined them in the last four with victory against Stoke on Wednesday. United dominated for long periods of their quarter-final at Goodison Park, but it took until the 88th minute before […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":65075,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n