Man United beats Forest 3-0, closes in on League Cup final

Manchester United’s Premier League title hopes may be fading, but a first final under Erik ten Hag is now in sight. A 3-0 away win in the first leg of the League Cup semifinals against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday put United in control ahead of the return fixture at Old Trafford next week. Goals from Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes at the City Ground went some way toward easing the disappointment of the late 3-2 loss to Arsenal on Sunday, which dented United’s challenge at the top of the league.

Ten Hag, however, has moved a step closer to the club’s first silverware for six years. A Wembley final against Newcastle or Southampton awaits United unless Forest can mount an unlikely fightback. Newcastle leads Southampton 1-0 after the first leg.

“We have to play one game, we have to do the same,” Ten Hag said. “We have to prepare, make good game plan and the players have to be focused.” Rashford opened the scoring for United after six minutes with a run from the halfway line before bursting past Joe Worrall and Remo Freuler in the box and finishing clinically. It was the in-form England forward’s 10th goal in as many games since returning from the World Cup and his fifth in the League Cup this season.

No player from Europe’s big five leagues has scored as many over that period. Sam Surridge had a goal ruled out by VAR for offside before Weghorst, who signed on loan from Burnley this month, scored his first for his new club in the 45th. Antony’s shot from the edge of the box was only parried by Forest goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and Weghorst reacted sharply to convert the rebound.