Manchester United v Nottingham Forest Live Commentary & Result, 01/02/2023, League Cup

That's all from us, we hope you enjoyed the game. We'll see you for the next one, and bring on the final!

That 5-0 aggregate victory sets up a date with Newcastle United on February 26 at Wembley in London. The two northern sides are bang in-form, and look likely to continue their impressive runs right up until their trip south to the capital. The magnitude of their scoreline over two legs will give Manchester United fans the world over some renewed confidence, that the EFL Cup final can yield the first silverware of the Ten Hag era at Old Trafford.

As he has done so often this season, Casemiro controlled the strings in United's midfield like a masterful puppeteer. As well as having three shots from inside the box, two of which were on target, the Brazilian completed 10 final third entries, and contested 12 duels. He won possession a game-high 11 times, including via four tackles, an interception and a clearance. He has had a transformative effect on this side, and Erik Ten Hag will be oping his impact will be similar when they meet Newcastle at Wembley.

It's all over, and Manchester United will face Newcastle United at Wembley in the EFL Cup final! The Red Devils kicked into gear after a slow first half, scoring two goals in as many minutes through Anthony Martial and Fred. Marcus Rashford set up both finishes, and his introduction, alongside that of Martial and Jadon Sancho, transformed the landscape of the game as United took control. Forest tried hard to force opportunities of their own, but with the damage done in the first leg, it was always too much of an ask for them to get anything out of this tie.

90' + 1' FULL-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST (5-0 Aggregate).

90' We'll play one more minute of added time, as United close in on booking a date at Wembley.

89' Rashford pinches the ball from Mighten in the final third and spreads it wide to Fernandes. He whips a teasing ball into the box, but McKenna gets there ahead of Sancho and heads clear.

88' Manchester United have only won both legs of an EFL Cup semi-final tie on three occasions out of 15. Each time they've done so, though, they've gone on to lose in the final. Omens?

D. Osong

S. Surridge

86' Surridge is replaced by another youth product for the visitors, as Detlef Esapa Osong comes on for his professional debut at Old Trafford.

O. Hammond

Gustavo Scarpa

86' Scarpa has done well in the middle for Forest, but comes off now for youngster Oliver Hammond to see out the game.

86' WIDE!!! Sancho and Martial link up for the latter to feed Fernandes outside him. The playmaker drills a low shot across the face, which beats Hennessey but creeps inches wide of the far post!!

85' Manchester United have scored six times in the final 15 minutes of games in this season's EFL Cup, which is again more than any other side have managed.

83' SAVED!!! Forest break at speed from the corner and Dennis finds Danilo surging clear. He does brilliantly to escape from three United players before shooting, and his half-volley draws a good save from Heaton! Surridge latches onto the rebound, but can only fire an off-balance shot over the bar!

82' Shaw almost gets in behind the Forest defence, but Boly comes across to knock it behind for yet another Manchester United corner.

V. Lindelöf

Casemiro

80' Casemiro also comes off, and Victor Lindelof replaces him, in a change which will likely see Martinez move forward into central midfield.

H. Maguire

R. Varane

80' Erik Ten Hag now rotates the United defence, as club captain Harry Maguire replaces Varane.

78' Those two quick-fire Rashford assists mean the forward now has 18 goal contributions in his last 15 EFL Cup games. He's the top scorer in this season's edition with five, and has scored 12 and set up six during this run.

M. Rashford

Assist

76' Rashford's awareness in such a tight area there was sublime, and the positioning of Fred made it harder for him to miss than score!

Goal

76' GOOOAALLL!!! The second comes within seconds!!! Fernandes' lovely scooped cross with the outside of his foot finds Rashford on the fly at the back post. He clips the ball back across the face of goal, where an unmarked Fred is waiting to tap it home!! 2-0 on the night and now 5-0 on the overall scoreboard, and the Red Devils are on their way to Wembley alright!

75' That's United's third goal from a substitute in this season's EFL Cup, with no club having scored more from the bench.

M. Rashford

Assist

73' Rashford gets the assist despite that assist being an attempted shot, and United have looked a difference beast since the introduction of their new front three.

Goal

73' GOOOOAALLL!!! The final beckons now!!! Casemiro, again, wins the ball in midfield, and sends Martial careering towards the Forest box. With a three-on-two overlap, he plays in Rashford, whose deflected shot scuffs back into Martial's path, and he finishes first-time to slot the ball into the bottom corner!! 1-0 to Manchester United, 4-0 on aggregate, and there is absolutely no way back for Forest now.

72' Manchester United have attempted the last five shots in this game, with Forest's most recent effort coming through Dennis in the 43rd minute.

70' WIDE!!! Martial ghosts in behind to collect a throughball on the byline, and lays it off to Fernandes. He blasts the ball first time, but sends it wide of the post before the flag is raised for offside!

Casemiro

Yellow Card

68' Casemiro tries to prevent a Forest break and slides in on Dennis. The forward tries to evade the challenge but can't, and the foul results in a booking for the United midfielder.

67' SAVED!!! A good flick from Fred allows Martial to play in Casemiro. He turns onto his left foot and looks to pick out the far corner, but Hennessey gets down low to his right and holds the ball at the second time of asking!

66' BLOCKED!!! It's sixes and sevens at the back for Forest as Sancho cuts out a poor Aurier pass. His ball for Martial is missed by Williams, and another deflection off Aurier bounces towards Rashford, whose side-footed finish is blocked by Boly!!!

66' Boly diverts Fernandes' cross behind for another United corner, and the midfielder's cross into the box is met by Casemiro at the front post, who nods a decent header wide of the mark!

S. Aurier

Renan Lodi

65' Lodi is also brought off by Steve Cooper, and Serge Aurier replaces the Brazilian at full-back.

Danilo

R. Freuler

64' Freuler also comes off for the visitors, and Danilo Oliveira will replace him in midfield.

A. Mighten

B. Johnson

64' Forest also make their first alterations, the first of which sees Alex Mighten replace Johnson out wide.

A. Martial

W. Weghorst

63' Weghorst's withdrawal completes the changes in the front three, as he's replaced up top by number nine Anthony Martial.

J. Sancho

Antony

63' Antony also comes off, and Jadon Sancho returns to the United fold for the first time since October, much to the delight of the home faithful.

M. Rashford

A. Garnacho

62' That shot was Garnacho's last contribution in this game, as he comes off for first-leg goalscorer Marcus Rashford.

61' SAVED!!! Quick ball movement from the Red Devils sees Fernandes find Garnacho in space. He jinks inside and out to beat Williams before shooting, and his near post effort is parried away strongly by Hennessey!

60' Surridge chases a long ball forward from Williams, but Varane gets across quickly to shoulder him off the ball, and passes back to Heaton.

58' Good play from the hosts sees Fernandes and Antony combine to send Weghorst through on goal, but Boly makes another vital intervention to scoop it away for Forest!

56' Weghorst and McKenna collide inside the Nottingham Forest box after the centre-back follows through from a clearance, but the referee calls play on, much to the visitors' relief!

55' United counter and Casemiro looks to play a ball through for Antony to run in behind, but the overhit pass rolls straight into Hennessey's waiting gloves.

54' Johnson darts down the right and once again gets the better of Casemiro. He also looks to cut inside Shaw, but the left-back puts the ball behind for a corner, Forest's first of the game.

52' Manchester United have stopped the opposition from scoring a first-half goal in all of their EFL Cup games this season, which is more than every other side.

50' United look to move the ball quickly up the right, but Antony is dispossessed by Dennis. Fernandes slides in to win the ball back, but collides with Antony and nearly takes a knee to the head!

48' Fred and Scarpa clash on the edge of the Forest box and United's Brazilian midfielder goes down having caught an arm in the face. The referee did call play on, so there'll be no free-kick, but the game pauses for Fred to get back to his feet.

46' Johnson resumes proceedings for Forest, and it's now or never for his side to reach the final!

The teams are back for the second half, and barring one hell of a comeback by the visitors, Manchester United could be just 45 minutes from Wembley!

Thrust into the starting XI at short notice, Dennis has been heavily involved for Forest, going ever so close to scoring with a shot that generated 0.22 xG. He's had more touches than any of his teammates, including four in the box, and has won seven of the 13 duels he's contested, including two of four dribbles. He's also helped out in defence, completing three tackles, two clearances, and has been involved in four free-kicks, winning and conceding two apiece. Menace.

It's 0-0 at the break, and still 3-0 to Manchester United on aggregate, who now have at least one foot in the final. Forest did generate some decent chances in that half, with Johnson drawing a save from Heaton and Dennis' goalbound shot being inadvertently blocked off the line by Surridge. The hosts, however, have dominated possession, and have gone close themselves, most notably seeing Weghorst's header hit the post right on half-time. It's certainly lively, but the Red Devils will think they have more than enough to prevent an unlikely revival from Forest in the second period.

S. Surridge

Yellow Card

45' + 2' Surridge flies in needlessly on Casemiro and scythes the midfielder down. It's your textbook "forward's challenge", and results in Surridge going into the referee's book.

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 0-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST.

45' + 1' We're into a minute's worth of added time at the end of this first half at Old Trafford.

45' OFF THE POST!!! Casemiro dinks a peach of a ball into the box, which is met by a glancing Weghorst header. Hennessey is nowhere near it, but the ball cracks off the bottom of the left-hand post and away! What a chance!

43' CHANCE!!! Forest are denied by their own player getting in the way!! Johnson brilliantly beats Casemiro and cuts the ball back from the byline. A deflection flicks the ball up for Dennis, whose volley is heading for the bottom corner but hits Surridge and deflects away!

42' Fernandes goes down very easily to win a free-kick from Lodi, and lays it off to Shaw from the right side of the box. Shaw hits an effort which skews away from goal before striking Weghorst, and it's cleared away by the visitors!

40' Fernandes latches onto Garnacho's inside pass into the Forest box, but he's easily outmuscled off the ball by Boly and Forest have it back.

38' OVER!!! What a thump that was!!! Antony wins a corner, which is headed away by McKenna. The winger arrives on the edge of the box and smashes a half-volley which beats everyone but sails an inch over the top of the crossbar!

36' Garnacho very nearly gets in behind off a flick from Weghorst, but Williams recovers to knock the ball back to his goalkeeper and snuff out the chance.

Fred

Yellow Card

35' Fred catches Scarpa late on halfway and the two Brazilians both hit the deck. The yellow card is out for the Manchester United midfielder, who picks up the first booking of this game.

34' SAVED!!! Johnson bursts into the box and ghosts beyond Martinez before shooting, but blasts his attempt straight at Heaton and the ball is parried away!

33' CHANCE!!! Garnacho takes advantage of a Williams slip and races down the byline before crossing. He drills a low ball towards Weghorst in the middle, but Hennessey gets down to the ball and quashes the chance before Weghorst can slide in!

32' None of Forest's last 16 away games in the EFL Cup have been drawn, with the East Midlands side winning nine and losing seven. Both of their victories on the road this season have been by three goals (3-0 v Grimsby, 4-1 v Blackburn).

30' The hosts' pressing prevents Forest from breaking away on the counter, but Williams does well to win a smart free-kick in his own defensive third, and Shaw's foul allows Forest a reprieve.

29' SAVED!!! Shaw whips a dangerous Manchester United free-kick into the box, and Casemiro meets it at the far post. His downward header is saved by the outstretched foot of Hennessey, and Scarpa is able to run the ball out of trouble!

27' Manchester United have won their last eight matches against Forest, netting at least three goals in seven of these, and 32 overall.

25' The Red Devils win their first corner of the match, but Dennis is there at the front post to head the ball away from danger, but concedes another corner.

23' Garnacho makes another dart into the area and takes on Williams, but the Forest right-back does well to block his cross and concedes a corner in the process.

21' A sluggish start to this game so far, with United not overplaying too much in attack but still restricting Forest from doing much at the other end. The visitors desperately need to score first here, but as things stand, they look more likely to do anything but.

19' Forest have lost their last five away games against Manchester United by an aggregate score of 17-2. Their last win at Old Trafford was in December 1994 in the Premier League.

17' Garnacho weaves his way into the box and goes down under pressure from Williams, but the referee signals for a goal kick, rather than a penalty, after deeming there wasn't any significant contact between the two!

16' A clever dummy from Garnacho sparks a United counter-attack and the Red Devils flood forward. Fernandes looks to pick out Shaw with a cross-field pass into the box, but Boly hammers the bouncing ball off Shaw's shin and behind for a goal kick!

14' Forest win a free-kick on the left and Scarpa's delivery is sumptuous. It's cleared away though, and another ball in from the Brazilian is headed out for a throw by Varane!

13' Shaw whips a teasing ball across the face but it's half-cleared by Forest, and the left-back's second attempt from the byline flies over the crossbar and behind!

12' A powerful run forward by Dennis allows Forest to push numbers forward and Mangala spreads the ball to the right. Williams is on the overlap and crosses to the front post, but Martinez blocks the ball and clears for the hosts.

10' Manchester United have won both their league and cup meetings with Nottingham Forest 3-0 this season – they've never beaten an opponent by 3+ goals on three occasions in a single campaign before.

8' Lingard's withdrawal for Dennis has seen a slight rejig of Forest's formation, shifting from 4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1 with Dennis playing from the left, Johnson moving wide to the right, and Scarpa drifting in-field to play in the hole behind Surridge.

6' A loose ball breaks Forest's way and Mangala looks to send Dennis away on the counter attack, but the replacement forward can't secure the ball and it rolls over the left touchline.

4' Martinez looks to hit a long ball forward for Fernandes, but it bounces ahead of the United captain in the box and Hennessey cleans up for the visitors.

2' No side in the 63-year history of the EFL Cup has ever come back from a three-goal first leg defeat to win the second semi-final, but Forest and their fans will be hoping they can be the history makers here.

1' Fernandes kicks off for the Red Devils, and we are off and running at Old Trafford!

The teams head out onto the Old Trafford pitch, and this deciding EFL Cup tie is just moments away from kick-off!

This match comes too soon for Forest’s deadline day signings Jonjo Shelvey, Felipe and Champions League-winning goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Former Manchester United playmaker Jesse Lingard, however, was originally named to start, but has unfortunately picked up an injury in the pre-match warm-up! He's replaced in the side by Emmanuel Dennis.

Marcus Rashford scored inside just six minutes of the first leg, giving United’s semi-final a perfect start, but the in-form England forward only makes the bench for this match, with Alejandro Garnacho preferred on the left flank. Jadon Sancho joins Rashford on the bench, featuring in a matchday squad for the first time since October 2022.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST SUBS: George Shelvey, Steve Cook, Joe Worrall, Alex Mighten, Sarge Aurier, Danilo Oliveira, Oliver Hammond, Detlef Esapa Osong, Alex Gibson-Hammond.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-4-2): Wayne Hennessey; Neco Williams, Scott McKenna, Willy Boly, Renan Lodi; Emmanuel Dennis, Orel Mangala, Remo Freuler, Gustavo Scarpa; Brennan Johnson, Sam Surridge.

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: David de Gea, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Tyrell Malacia, Jadon Sancho, Facundo Pellistri, Kobbie Mainoo.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-3-3): Tom Heaton; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw; Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Fred; Antony, Wout Weghorst, Alejandro Garnacho.

Two first-half strikes from Marcus Rashford and Wout Weghorst took the game beyond Forest’s reach at the City Ground, and Bruno Fernandes added a late third to put further daylight between the sides. Forest will need a near-miracle at Old Trafford in order to pull this tie back into their favour, but with the surprises the club continues to serve up in the transfer market, they might just be able to spring another in Manchester.

Taking a comfortable 3-0 first-leg lead into this deciding cup tie at home, the Red Devils will be hoping for a comfortable path into the final at Wembley, where they’d be facing a resurgent Newcastle United.

Hello, and welcome to live coverage of this EFL Cup semi-final, as Manchester United host Nottingham Forest in the second leg at Old Trafford.

Manchester United v Nottingham Forest Live Commentary, 02/02/2023

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