Stoke 0-2 Man Utd: Ashley Young Inspires Red Devils To Semi-Finals

by Jamie Clark

Ashley Young scored his first club goal since May 2012 as Manchester United survived stormy weather to win at Stoke City in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals. David Moyes's Red Devils edged a match of few chances with captain Patrice Evra also on target.

Young fired wide into the side-netting for United as hosts Stoke survived an early scare. Anderson then worked Thomas Sorensen in the home goal with a low effort midway through the first half.

Referee Mark Clattenburg briefly brought the players off amid a hailstorm. The delay lasted about eight minutes. Just before half time both Red Devils centre backs almost combined for a corner when Chris Smalling nodded across to the unsuspecting Jonny Evans.

Just after the hour the visitors went ahead as Young emphatically ended his goal drought, smashing home after a one-two with sub Javier Hernandez. Evans then looped a header wide from another set piece with Sorensen scrambling.

Mark Hughes's Potters tried to find an equalizer, but offered little in response. Jon Walters went close with a deflected effort just going over and that was all. Visitors United sealed victory 12 minutes from time when Young teed up left back Evra to score with his weaker right foot in style.

Stoke had been forced into taking skipper Ryan Shawcross off with a groin problem, so the home side had no natural centre backs on the pitch when Moyes's men scored. The Scot is still in the hunt for a second trophy since succeeding Alex Ferguson as Red Devils manager.

Match Stats

Stoke: 29 Thomas Sorensen, 20 Geoff Cameron, 17 Ryan Shawcross (c) (16 Charlie Adam 77'), 12 Marc Wilson, 3 Erik Pieters, 19 Jonathan Walters, 8 Wilson Palacios, 32 Stephen Ireland, 6 Glenn Whelan, 24 Oussama Assaidi (10 Marko Arnautovic 62'), 25 Peter Crouch 4-5-1

Man Utd: 1 David De Gea, 2 Rafael, 12 Chris Smalling, 6 Jonny Evans, 3 Patrice Evra (c), 23 Tom Cleverley, 4 Phil Jones, 8 Anderson (14 Javier Hernandez 58'), 25 Antonio Valencia, 19 Danny Welbeck (24 Darren Fletcher 82'), 18 Ashley Young 4-3-3/4-4-2

Goals: Ashley Young 62', Patrice Evra 78'

Contributor
Contributor

Jamie Clark is a qualified Web Journalist after undergoing professional training at the University of Sheffield. A prolific and accredited sports writer, he also enjoys classic comedy, historic fiction, 80s music and heritage.