Unstoppable Man Utd Dominate Crystal Palace 3-0: Casemiro's Sensational Performance Propels Carabao Cup Holders into Fourth Round

Manchester United comfortably progressed to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a convincing 3-0 win over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. Casemiro played a crucial role, scoring one goal and assisting another. Despite Erik ten Hag making several changes to the team that won against Burnley in the Premier League, United maintained complete control. Alejandro Garnacho opened the scoring in the 21st minute, followed by Casemiro's headed goal from Mason Mount's corner just six minutes later.

In the third minute after half-time, Casemiro set up a goal when Anthony Martial skillfully scored from his excellent cross, boosting morale for the home team at Old Trafford after their challenging start to the season. Crystal Palace, who also made several substitutions, showed signs of danger only after the introduction of Eberechi Eze in the second half. However, it was too late as the outcome guaranteed consecutive victories for United, as they strive to regain momentum in their campaign.

How Man Utd cruised to victory

United's dominance was apparent from the beginning as Sofyan Amrabat, making his full debut and filling in as a makeshift left-back, cleverly positioned himself in midfield, overpowering and outplaying Palace.

The scoring began when Mount expertly passed the ball out to Facundo Pellistri, who skillfully redirected it to Diogo Dalot. Dalot then skillfully pulled the ball back for Garnacho to execute a precise and powerful finish past Palace's debutant Rob Holding on the goal line.

Palace had already experienced the departure of another player making their debut when Dean Henderson was substituted for Sam Johnstone due to an injury he sustained against his former team. The situation worsened for Palace as Casemiro effortlessly evaded Jeffrey Schlupp and skillfully headed the ball into the far corner from Mount's delivery, which curved away from the goal.

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Mount, who had been sidelined with a thigh injury since August, was substituted at half-time after a promising comeback. Nevertheless, United maintained their complete control of the game in the second half.

Their superiority was further emphasized when Casemiro intercepted Amrabat's intended cross, subsequently finding Martial, who executed a superb first-time finish from a challenging angle.

Palace failed to register their first shot on goal until the 67th minute, when Nathaniel Clyne attempted a long-range shot but missed the target. However, they came close to scoring through Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta, both of whom were denied by the attentive Andre Onana.

On the flip side, the home team posed a threat to increase their lead, particularly with substitute Jonny Evans forcing a quick save from Johnstone after a corner. Victor Lindelof and Garnacho also tested the Palace goalkeeper in the latter stages of the game.

Analysis: Casemiro a cut above

United's three goals ultimately proved more than enough to boost the overall atmosphere within the club and provide Ten Hag with the opportunity to strategize another triumphant Carabao Cup campaign.

Casemiro has scored a total of 11 goals for Manchester United since the beginning of last season, which is a remarkable achievement for a holding midfielder. Additionally, he contributed more than just his goal against Palace.

Furthermore, the Brazilian midfielder played a significant role in setting up the third goal with a fantastic cross to Martial. His exceptional distribution, both over short and long distances, was consistently excellent. In fact, he completed a total of 113 passes, including numerous precise switches of play that effectively stretched United's helpless opponents.

Casemiro was not only their destroyer, but also disrupted play in the midfield and recorded the second-highest number of tackles and interceptions among all United players.

"We' Andy Hinchcliffe praised the impressive performance of the entire team, highlighting Casemiro as the driving force. With his relentless energy both on and off the ball, he contributed with a goal and an assist, truly standing out."

Ten Hag praises Amrabat, Maguire, Mount

Erik ten Hag told We: "It's a good night, we played quite well, dominated the game. That's what we're looking for.

The frustration and disappointment may have caused a decline in the mood, but the spirit and unity remained present and continues to do so.

"We showed progress in our defensive tactics at Burnley, and today we further improved our performance with the ball."

"There is much more to come as we continue to make progress."

Regarding Ambrabat's performance, Ten Hag commented, "He is a player who selflessly offers what the team requires. He contributes to the team with his exceptional skills, as well as his energy and dynamism."

The Manchester United manager also commended Harry Maguire's "impressive" performance and affirmed that the decision to substitute Mount at halftime had been premeditated.

"He is in the process of recovering from an injury, and we are gradually preparing him," he explained regarding the former Chelsea player. "If you rush things, you risk a setback, and we want to prevent that. I believe he delivered an excellent performance."

Amrabat: I'll play anywhere, it was a perfect night

Jadon Sancho's ongoing conflict with the manager has once again prevented his inclusion in the squad. Ten Hag declined to comment on the matter, stating, "I prefer not to discuss players who are not available. The decision lies with him."

Sofyan Amrabat expressed his delight with the performance, stating, "It was a flawless evening. We performed exceptionally well and, most importantly, emerged victorious with a 3-0 win. Since my childhood, I have dedicated my entire life to working towards this moment. The opportunity to play here is truly incredible, it's absolutely fantastic.

"I made it clear to the manager that I am ready to play in any position, be it as a goalkeeper or anywhere else. On Tuesday, I was deployed as a left back, but I had the freedom to operate in midfield. I enjoy being involved in the game and having possession of the ball. Although I am not a traditional left-back who sticks to the touchline, I aimed to provide the team with an additional dimension of play."

The performance was excellent, resulting in a significant victory. Defeating Burnley showcased our resilience, and we aimed to provide the fans with an enjoyable experience - I hope this trend continues.

Although I am not currently performing at my peak, it is understandable given the less than perfect pre-season due to a minor injury. Despite this, I have been diligently training for the past two to three weeks in order to recover as quickly as possible. As I continue to participate in matches, my strength and performance will improve. Today, during the Tuesday game, I already gave a solid hour on the field, and hopefully, I will contribute even more.

Hodgson: We got a footballing lesson

Roy Hodgson told us that it hasn't been an easy period for us. However, it is evident that we are part of a prestigious club and our ultimate goal is to emerge victorious. Even though the pressure is immense, we are determined to achieve success. Our manager emphasizes the importance of winning every day, and this is exactly what we strive for.

"We believed we could improve our performance, particularly in the first half. The second half, in my opinion, showed a slight improvement.

"However, what matters is that we must reassemble and organize ourselves. We will return to this venue on Saturday.

What's next?

Manchester United and Crystal Palace are set to face each other once more in the upcoming Premier League match on Saturday at 3pm. Despite potential changes in personnel, we anticipate an equally challenging game ahead. I am confident that we won't witness a worse performance from Manchester United than what we saw earlier today.