Romelu Lukaku looked to be back to his best as he sent Manchester United into the FA Cup sixth round with a well-taken brace against Huddersfield Town on Saturday evening.
The Belgium international struck in the opening three minutes before doubling their lead early in the second-half, both times racing away from the Huddersfield defence before slotting past the goalkeeper.
However, the biggest incident of the game came in the 45th minute as Juan Mata controversially had a goal ruled out for offside on review from the VAR system with replays showing he was off by the finest of margins.
Romelu Lukaku celebrates after giving Manchester United the lead over Huddersfield Town in just the third minute of the tie
Lukaku wrong-foots Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl to give Manchester United the lead in the FA Cup fifth-round game
Lukaku strikes the ball past the Huddersfield goalkeeper to double Manchester United’s advantage early in the second half
Manchester United players celebrate as a team following Lukaku’s goal as the Huddersfield fans sit quietly in the background
Manchester United players are joined by a number of their travelling fans on the pitch following Lukaku’s second goal
Juan Mata of Manchester United consults with referee Kevin Friend after his first-half goal is overturn on review using VAR
MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND MATCH ZONE
Huddersfield: Lossl; Kongolo (Malone 70), Billing, Van La Parra, Williams; Ince, Quaner, Mounie, Zanka, Schindler; Hadergjonaj (Smith 70).
Subs not used: Coleman, Whitehead, Hogg, Sabiri, Depoitre.
Goals: None
Bookings: None
Manager: David Wagner
Manchester United: Romero, Young, Lindelof, Smalling, Shaw, Matic, Carrick, McTominay, Mata (Lingard 80), Alexis (Martial 76), Lukaku (Bailly 90).
Subs not used: Pereira, Darmian, Gomes, Hamilton.
Goals: Lukaku 3, 54
Bookings: None
Manager: Jose Mourinho
Referee: Kevin Friend
Video Assistant Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Romelu Lukaku drives into the box and finishes well to give Manchester United the lead. Get more from Match Zone HERE
United looked as though it might be a stroll. The number of empty seats in all but the United end suggested that Huddersfield’s fans, at least, weren’t as engaged with the FA Cup fifth round as they are with their Premier League survival.
And when Romelu Lukaku struck an early blow, it felt like it might be fatal. Nemanja Matic found Lukaku, who touched it on to Mata who in turn played Lukaku back in. From there, The Belgian demonstrated his strength, simply muscling his was pats Colin Schindler and then tricking Jonas Lossl by pulling the ball inside him at the near post Three minutes gone and it felt like United had subdued any Cup fever.
Yet it didn’t turn out that way. Despite being forewarned by the 2-1 defeat here in October, United seemed to forget that they would need to out-compete Huddersfield for 90 minutes. With Philip Billing controlling midfield and with Florent Hadergjonaj seemingly having free rein to run past Alexis Sanchez and Luke Shaw, United retreated on to the back foot.
Indeed, Tom Ince might have levelled as early as the sixth minute he pulled Billing’s throygh balljust wide. Ince went even closer on 33minutes when his superb driving run from midfield saw him meet Hadergjonaj’s cross. Unfortunately, he mistimed the final metre of his run and failed to finish. Yet the warning signs had been apparent for some time.
Mata thinks he has given Manchester United a two-goal lead in when he rounds the goalkeeper and slots the ball home
The Spaniard celebrates with his Manchester United team-mates after appearing to double his side’s advantage in the game
Referee Kevin Friend waves away Manchester United players as he listens to the video assistant referee in his receiver
Players and fans at the John Smith’s Stadium wait patiently for a final decision as Friend’s assistant reviews television footage
Television replays appear to confirm the Spanish midfielder is ever so slightly ahead of play when the pass is made
After two minutes of consultation with the man in his ear, the referee confirms Mata’s goal is to be ruled out for offside
United’s midfield had not improved in the absence of Paul Pogba. (United said he was ill). Instead, Huddersfield dominated. Though it all seemed to be in vain when Ashley Young broke impressively down the right and crossed for Mata, who deftly skipped past Lossl and turned the ball into the net from an acute angle on the stroke of half time
United were celebrating and the goal seemed good but referee Kevin Friend was checking with his Video Assistant, Neil Swarbrick. As ever, the wait seemed interminable. And for TV viewers, there was the farcical spectacle of seemingly bendy lines on the screen being used to determine the decision, though Swarbrick clarified that wasn’t the case.
At the end of it all, Mata’s torso was marginally offside. It was the correct decision even if it would probably never have been spotted without the VAR.
Huddersfield began the second half with the energy and enthusiasm of a reprieved man. They pinned United back again and forced a succession of free kicks on the edge of the box. From one, in 51 minutes, Ince’s striker deflected off the wall and hung, for a second, in front of Rajiv Van La Parra. Yet his volley was hopelessly misjudged and a fine chance passed.
Belgium international Lukaku slots the ball past Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Lossl to put Manchester United two ahead
Lukaku celebrates his and Manchester United’s second goal of the game while Mata shares a joke with referee Kevin Friend
Sanchez shows a young Manchester United fan back to his seat after he joined the players in celebrating Lukaku’s goal
Manchester United defender Chris Smalling appears to handle the ball in the area but referee Kevin Friend waves play on
Tom Ince fluffs his chance to bring Huddersfield Town back on level terms after he fails to direct a cross on target
Ince looks dejected as he lies on the floor following his missed chance while Ashley Young shouts at his team-mates
And Huddersfield didn’t even really have time to rue their miss. Five minutes later, in a near carbon copy of the first goal, Lukaku was again out-running and overpowering their defence. This time Alexis Sanchez was the provider, with a sublime pass.
Yet the timing of the run and the ability to out-pace defenders whilst also holding them at bay and finish clinically is Lukaku’s superpower. In that mode, he looks unstoppable and his 56th minute seemingly took the game beyond Huddersfield’s reach. Even better, there was no need for any video replay.
From thereon in, United finally found some composure. Sanchez was flourishing, Michael Carrick got a grip of the midfield and Lukaku seemingly bullied at will.
It was as though they needed a two goal lead to impose themselves. They largely contented themselves with controlling possession and ensuring Huddersfield were kept in their place, But that was enough to draw the sting from the game.
More to follow…
Huddersfield Town’s Terence Kongolo reacts after a chance to bring his side back on level terms goes by in the first half
Alexis Sanchez theatrically falls to the ground after a heavy challenge from Huddersfield Town star Florent Hadergjonaj
Nemanja Matic scores for Manchester United before half-time but sees the goal ruled out for a clear offside
Former Manchester United manager and current non-executive director Sir Alex Ferguson takes his seat in the stands