The Red Devils had a hard time getting rid of Newport County (4-2), residents of the fourth division, on Sunday in the FA Cup.
Manchester United, outgoing finalist, laboriously qualified for the round of 16 of the FA Cup on Sunday at Newport County (4-2), a 4th division club, thanks in particular to the first goal this season from Brazilian striker Antony .
Getting off to a bad start in the Premier League (8th), sharply eliminated in the Champions League, the Red Devils almost experienced one more disappointment in the 4th round of the «Cup» on the ground of the Welsh, sixteenth in League Two (D4).
Antony finally scores
However, they started with a bang with Bruno Fernandes (7th, 1-0) and Kobbie Mainoo (13th), but their lead disappeared at the start of the second half.
Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, used for the first time in the absence of André Onana, lost to a superb long-range strike from Bryn Morris (36th, 2-1) before seeing Will Evans (47th, 2-2 ) cut a cross in front of Raphaël Varane.
Manchester United finally escaped thanks to Antony, on the lookout for a ball pushed back by the post on a strike from Luke Shaw (68th, 3-2), before a final goal from Rasmus Hojlund (90th + 4) in added time, when Newport tried everything for everything.
In the next round, Erik Ten Hag’s team will travel to Bristol City (D2) or Nottingham Forest (D1), forced to a «replay» after their 0-0 draw on Friday.