Nottingham Forest 0 Manchester United 3

Marcus Rashford opened the scoring just five minutes into the game with a superb solo effort, before Sam Surridge almost levelled the score from a quick counter attack, only to have his effort ruled out for offside.

Wout Weghorst then bagged his first goal for the Reds to double our lead just before the end of the first half, netting from the rebound after Antony’s shot was saved.

With just two minutes to go in the game, United captain Bruno Fernandes made it 3-0 with a first-time strike to put the first leg to bed.

FIRST HALF: RASHFORD GOES SOLO

United started the game quickly with plenty of forward runs. The best of those came from the in-form Marcus Rashford, who scored just five minutes into the game. The Reds’ top goalscorer darted down the left-hand side after latching onto a pass from Casemiro. Taking on and beating Joe Worrell and Remo Freuler, United’s number 10 skipped away into the area and beat Wayne Hennessey at his near post with his weaker left foot to open the scoring.

Erik ten Hag’s men came close to doubling the lead with two big opportunities falling to Antony, who was twice allowed to take the ball on his left foot and attempt to curl it past Hennessey. Each attempt floated wide of the far post.

Forest then found their rhythm and came close to levelling the score. Morgan Gibbs-White found himself in a lot of space and picked out the run of Sam Surridge, whose first-time effort managed to beat David De Gea at his far post. However, the forward’s foot happened to be the wrong side of Lisandro Martinez and the goal was ruled out by VAR for offside. The home side’s new signing Gustavo Scarpa had his chance to equalise just moments later, when he tried a first-time volley from 25 yards out which required a world-class save from De Gea to preserve the visitors’ lead.

United’s search for the second goal paid off on the brink of half-time. Casemiro again was the catalyst behind the attack, making a brilliant pass to Antony. The Brazilian wing wizard made a great run into the area and forced a brilliant save from Hennessey before Wout Weghorst pounced to double the advantage with a poacher’s goal, his first strike in a United shirt.

SECOND HALF: BRUNO WRAPS IT UP

United faced a lot of pressure from Steve Cooper’s side at the start of the second half, but Ten Hag's men weathered the storm and broke away with Antony finding Christian Eriksen on the edge of the box. The Danish international tried to curl the ball towards the top corner but it ricocheted off the crossbar and was cleared away by the Forest defence.

Just 10 minutes into the half, Ten Hag made his first substitution of the game, taking off Rashford who was feeling his ribs after a clash with the Forest rearguard. The first goalscorer made way for Alejandro Garnacho and the young Argentinian nearly made a big impact, finding Eriksen on the left wing. The Dane whipped a cross towards Weghorst who was looking for his second strike, but the ball was too high and went out for a goal-kick.

Forest looked to reduce the deficit when substitute Nico Williams managed to get the better of Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the left-hand side and crossed, but former United winger Jesse Lingard who could not make anything of it.

The Reds looked comfortable towards the end of the game but were still seeking a third goal with substitute Facundo Pellistri making a quick run down the right wing and firing a wicked cross towards Weghorst. The Dutchman's resulting header just failed to hit the target.

In the closing minutes of the game, Fernandes started a counter attack by trying to pick out Anthony Elanga or Pellistri but the ball was cleared by the Forest defence. But Bruno would not give up. He strode into the area and struck the ball first time past Hennessey to score his sixth goal of the season and increased United’s lead to 3-0 going into the second leg at Old Trafford next week.

LINE-UPS

Forest: Hennessey, Aurier, Worrall, McKenna, Lodi (Williams, 72), Danilo (Colback, 58), Freuler, Scarpa (Lingard, 63), Johnson, Gibbs-White (O’Brien, 71) Surridge (Dennis, 63).

Subs not used: Smith, Cook, Boly, Mangala.

United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen (Fred, 70), Fernandes, Antony (Pellistri, 70), Rashford (Garnacho, 56), Weghorst (Elanga, 84).

Subs not used: Heaton, Williams, Varane, McTominay, Mainoo.

Goals: Rashford 5, Weghorst 44.

Booked: Pellistri 83.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTION

1/2 of the job done 👏🏼 …bring on the second leg! 👹🔴 #mufc #carabaocup #teamwork pic.twitter.com/8A6Q9nxDGi

— Lisandro Martinez (@LisandrMartinez) January 25, 2023

Job done. See you next week! 👉🏾🙎🏾‍♂️😉 pic.twitter.com/H0n3chSPNM

— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) January 25, 2023

Great win! Lets go for the next one 👊🏼@ManUtd ❤️#CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/Zxee7NpegU

— Facu Pellistri (@FPellistri07) January 25, 2023

Great performance by our team tonight!! See you in the 2nd leg!! 👊🏽🔴#MUFC #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/4RMUHw1irn

— Casemiro (@Casemiro) January 25, 2023