United 3 Cambridge 0

<div style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img height="238" src="http://www.manutd.com/sitecore/shell/~/media/0105E3142C714028AE416AA996831AF8.ashx?w=480&h=179&rgn=0,79,1500,639" width="640" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Louis van Gaal's men set up an away date with Preston North End and remain on course for Wembley thanks to goals from Juan Mata, Marcos Rojo and substitute James Wilson.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">The Reds survived a major scare in the very first minute as Daley Blind, flawless at the weekend, misplaced a pass straight to Tom Elliott and the angular striker bore down on David De Gea's goal. Slipping as he fired off a shot, the visiting centre-forward saw his effort curl wide of the keeper and rebound back off a post.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Louis van Gaal's side were slow into their stride with Marouane Fellaini deployed up front alongside Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney stationed on the right side of a diamond. Rooney was heavily involved from out wide as his header deflected off Greg Taylor to go through to Chris Dunn before the Cambridge goalkeeper was properly worked for the first time on 18 minutes by the skipper's low drive.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Seven minutes later, a neat move unhinged the Cambridge defence with Paddy McNair, excellent at right-back, and Mata ferrying the ball wide to Angel Di Maria with crisp passes. The Reds' record buy hung the ball up to the far post where Fellaini, on cue, nodded into the six-yard box for Mata to steer in off the underside of the bar.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">A change of pace by Di Maria carved out a volleyed chance for McNair, only for Cameron McGeehan to block, but a second goal arrived when a pinpoint corner by Di Maria found Fellaini in space. The Belgian controlled before shooting, with van Persie picking up the loose ball and intelligently scooping<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">it to Rojo with his left foot. The South American, enjoying getting forward throughout his 81 minutes from left-back, headed home his first goal for the club.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Di Maria continued to be a thorn in the visitors' side as he lashed a venomous strike over the bar from a Mata lay-off and teed up a first-time volley on the full by Rooney during a breakaway raid, with the shot bouncing off the turf and going well wide.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Cambridge did create a half-chance through Ryan Donaldson but the Reds were otherwise in total control heading into the break. Van Persie led the charge in the second half but was out of luck with a number of efforts. Two shots were saved by Dunn, a pair of headers were misdirected and he was unable to convert the rebound after Rooney's stinging drive was pushed out by the keeper.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Wilson replaced the Dutchman on 66 minutes and Di Maria was also withdrawn after a rasping drive brought a flying save out of Dunn. Ander Herrera came on for the Argentinian and he collected a loose ball to feed the ball through to Wilson. The youngster took aim and flashed a left-footed drive past Dunn to put the result beyond any doubt.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Rooney almost added a fourth goal when bending a shot just wide before Ashley Young made his comeback after a hamstring injury in place of Rojo. Dunn clutched another decent attempt by Rooney and McGeehan spurned an injury-time opening but there was no further addition to the scoreline as the hosts ensured safe progress in a competition the club is determined to win.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Manutd.com</div>

United 3 Cambridge 0

Louis van Gaal's men set up an away date with Preston North End and remain on course for Wembley thanks to goals from Juan Mata, Marcos ...

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Liverpool Kisses Wembley Goodbye

<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://assets2.lfcimages.com/uploads/7847__6528__462362814_10_517X310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reds edged out of cup after extra-time" border="0" src="http://assets2.lfcimages.com/uploads/7847__6528__462362814_10_517X310.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" /></a><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;"></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><h2>Liverpool's Capital One Cup ambitions were quashed on Tuesday night as a 1-0 victory for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge saw the Londoners prevail in the semi-final with a 2-1 aggregate result.<a name="more"></a></h2><br /><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Another absorbing clash between the Barclays Premier League foes captured the attention for 90 minutes, but neither could muster a strike - meaning extra-time was required, with the away goals rule then in operation.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Branislav Ivanovic altered the course of the tie when he steered a header into the net four minutes into the additional period, moving onto a set-piece delivery by Willian and giving Simon Mignolet little chance.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">And despite the Reds' exertions in the time that remained, Chelsea held firm to deny the determined visitors a first return to Wembley since three trips to the national stadium in 2012.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Pre-<span class="z50998c627r" id="z50998c627r_2" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">match</span> team news arrived 75 minutes before proceedings got underway and confirmed that Brendan Rodgers had selected exactly the same starting XI that began the first leg against the Blues at Anfield seven days ago.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">The aggregate score was 1-1 when the second meeting kicked off and both sides were clearly keen to increase their tally, with Raheem <span class="z50998c627r" id="z50998c627r_3" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">Sterling</span> and Diego Costa each seeking to utilise their acceleration to move free in behind.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">For all that the opening quarter-hour was brimming with the trademark facets of a rivalry that has developed in the past decade, though, neither team could produce the final incisive delivery or finish to conclude their approach.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Sterling rolled Kurt Zouma on the halfway line to collect a Jordan Henderson pass. Liverpool's central forward drove toward the box, with <span class="z50998c627r" id="z50998c627r_4" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">Steven</span> Gerrard storming up in support, but before a decision was made, the Chelsea man recovered.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Meanwhile, Costa demanded a penalty for a challenge by Martin Skrtel but was denied, then Thibaut Courtois' rapidly outstretched palm pushed out a blistering hit from Alberto Moreno - teed up by a stunning cross-field Gerrard ball.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Nemanja Matic scuffed an effort well wide as the contest became steadily <span class="z50998c627r" id="z50998c627r_1" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">more</span> end-to-end, a scenario that allowed Philippe Coutinho to glide through the middle of the home backline - a la Sterling last week - only for Courtois to block with a leg.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">The Reds were counter-attacking with great intent, searching out a teammate over the top at the earliest opportunity, and the latest flowing move brought Henderson into a shooting position 20 yards out. But the vice-captain skewed off target.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">In response, Brazilian playmaker <span class="z50998c627r" id="z50998c627r_5" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">Oscar</span> clipped a set-piece - following a foul by compatriot Lucas Leiva - and then an attempt from open play too far to the left twice in quick succession to leave it goalless at the interval.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">The tension and mini-battles within the tie continued into the second period, which was 10 minutes old when injury forced centre-back Mamadou Sakho to leave the field. On came Glen Johnson to tackle his former employers.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Eden Hazard's nimble footwork had Red hearts in mouths when he set off on a dribble from the right flank to the centre, stepping in and out of defenders and rifling a shot that whistled wide to the right of Mignolet's goal.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">The Belgian then made a crucial save to thwart Costa, who blasted low from outside the area and benefited from a troublesome Skrtel deflection. At the other end, the Liverpool captain curled too close to Courtois.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">By now, the <span class="z50998c627r" id="z50998c627r_6" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">tempo</span> was frenetic. And Mignolet was the man to thank again as a Henderson interception bobbled into the path of Costa yards out - the Spain international was poised to convert until the No.22 rushed out and stole possession.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Into the 70th minute, it was time for Mario Balotelli, introduced with the score still deadlocked on the evening and therefore the potential for extra-time looming larger on the <span class="z50998c627r" id="z50998c627r_7" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">horizon</span> to finally decide the first Capital One Cup finalists.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Gerrard volleyed over the crossbar after a combination between Balotelli and Coutinho got the ball to the No.8, while Mignolet calmly handled an ambitious hit from at least 40 yards unleashed by Hazard, often Chelsea's chief creator.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">The referee's full-time whistle heralded an extra half-hour, with Liverpool under obligation to find the target if they were to book a berth at Wembley. But it was actually the hosts who struck, four minutes in.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Lucas was penalised on the right side and Willian stood over the free-kick. His swinging cross into the box was an invitation for a colleague to connect, and Ivanovic accepted by rushing in and nodding beyond Mignolet.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Rodgers' charges simply had to score; Henderson, and the travelling Kop housed at the opposite end, thought perhaps he had with a glancing header set up by Sterling on the left. However, it drifted away to the right and Courtois was unconcerned.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Substitute Ramires thrashed wide as Jose Mourinho's team tried to establish a cushion that ultimately was not needed, with the Reds unable to find the leveller which would have called for penalties in London.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Chelsea</b> (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry (c), Filipe Luis (Azpilicueta 78); Fabregas (Ramires 50),Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa.<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Unused subs</b> Cech, Cahill, Ake, Remy, Drogba.<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Scorers</b><br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Booked </b>Terry 74, Ivanovic 89, Diego Costa 102, Oscar 108.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Liverpool </b>(3-4-1-2): Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho (Johnson 57); Markovic (Balotelli 70), Henderson, Lucas, Moreno (Lambert 105); Gerrard, Coutinho; Sterling.<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Unused subs</b> Ward, Lovren, Lallana, Allen.<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Scorer </b><br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Booked </b>Henderson 41, Lucas 53, Gerrard 102, Emre Can 113, Skrtel 115.                </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Referee </b>Michael Oliver<br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Crowd </b>40,659<br /><i>Official Report from Liverpoolfc</i></div>

Liverpool Kisses Wembley Goodbye

Liverpool's Capital One Cup ambitions were quashed on Tuesday night as a 1-0 victory for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge saw the Londoners pr...

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