Chicharito brace conquers Canaries and inspires 4-0 thrashing that sends United into the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup.
This Capital One Cup clash came as Manchester United were just starting to find some form. After their third-round victory against Liverpool last month, they were hopeful of extending their 5 game unbeaten run in this tie against Chris Hughton's Canaries.
Javier Hernandez, fresh from his heroics at the weekend, earned himself a start up front whilst forgotten man Wilfried Zaha finally made an appearance on the team sheet for the first time since the Community Shield in August. Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic returned to partner each other in defence as Phil Jones started in midfield.
United began brightly and attacked with pace down both flanks. Their first real opportunity came inside 14 minutes as Januzaj put a lovely ball through to Zaha in space on the right wing. Determined to prove himself, he rolled a good pass to Hernandez in the box who somehow managed to get a shot away despite being on the floor with his back to goal. It was blocked and United upped the pressure from the resulting corner to force another chance. A short corner from Young allowed Januzaj to whip the ball in and pick out Ferdinand at the back post. He headed it across the face of goal to Hernandez, who couldn't keep his header down under pressure.
Januzaj relished his role behind the striker and spread the play as though he had been doing it for years. He was involved again just before the 20 minute mark as this time he picked out Young in space on the left wing and made it into the box to complete the one-two. Januzaj took the ball to the byline and then went down under contact from Fer which saw Referee Kevin Friend point to the penalty spot. United favourite Hernandez stepped up to take it and dispatched it perfectly, sending Bunn the wrong way to put the home side deservedly ahead.
Januzaj could have had a goal himself not long after with a long-range effort from 25 yards after Jones had won the ball in midfield. The youngster's shot just missed the top left corner of the goal. The 18 year old then almost got on the end of another Zaha cross after good work from Jones and Rafael, but Norwich midfielder Fer this time got it away.
United were hardly troubled in defence and the majority of their attacking play came down the left-hand side as Young and Januzaj ran at Norwich's defence and looked lively throughout. Just before half time both were involved in two good chances. The first came after Young showed neat footwork and passed to Buttner on the left. Januzaj then took the ball, ran past four Norwich players into the box and hit a shot that was blocked well by Bennett. It then came back to Januzaj on the rebound but his second effort was also blocked, this time by Bassong.
Januzaj next found some space and threaded a ball through to Young who whipped in a ball from the edge of the box that just missed Hernandez. It remained 1-0 at half time with United on top and Norwich desperate to find a way to stop Januzaj, who was at the heart of everything United did well in attack.
The second half started off better for Norwich as they tried to get forward and trouble the United full-backs. Redmond got past Rafael down the left and created a chance for lone striker Elmander with a super cross but the frontman couldn't steer it in with his outstretched leg and his contact only helped the ball to trickle wide and out of play. It was then back to business for United as they quickly went down the other end and got their second through Hernandez. United exploited the space on the left hand side yet again as Buttner put in a well-timed cross that found the Mexican. His header was saved initially by Bunn but it rebounded back for him to head it again and this time it found the back of the night to give him, and United, their second of the night.
Redmond, arguably Norwich's best player on the night, created their best chance to get a goal back on 56 minutes as he beat Buttner easily on the right and put in a dangerous cross into the box. Snodgrass got up to send a header goalwards but he made contact with Rafael on the way up and Lindegaard made a comfortable save. It then became apparent that Snodgrass had been hurt in the collision and this lead to a 10-minute stoppage before he was stretchered off and replaced by Pilkington.
It was a similar tale to the first 60 minutes after the break in play as Januzaj caused problems yet again. He eased past Fer in midfield and hit a shot from long-range that went just wide of Bunn's right-hand post. It got worse for Norwich as Redmond went off injured and United brought on the in-form Rooney, who within minutes had almost set up Hernandez for his hat-trick. Unfortunately for the Mexican, his cross was over-hit and instead found Januzaj on the right, whose tricky footwork and cross forced a corner. Young tried another short corner to Januzaj, who took on the substitute Pilkington and passed it to Rafael. United's right-back crossed first time to Hernandez at the far post and he headed it across the box but it was cleared by Bassong. His clearance found Jones near the edge of the box who volleyed it past Bunn with great technique to put clear daylight between United and the away side.
There was eleven minutes of time added on at the end after the unfortunate collision between Rafael and Snodgrass and United used this time to add a fourth. Rooney lofted a beautiful ball from just inside the Norwich half over the top to Fabio, a late substitute who had found himself in between the defence and with only Bunn to beat. He chested the ball down and managed to squeeze the ball in to the net despite the presence of the on-rushing goalkeeper. It was a composed finish with the outside of his right foot and ensured United sailed into the next round with an emphatic victory.
United will now relish finding out who they will face in the quarter-finals in tonight's draw and will be happy with a performance that has proved they can be clinical and finish teams off. They are now unbeaten in six games and it finally looks like Moyes is getting the best out of his side.
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