United hold off Reading fightback

Manchester United FC edged into the FA Cup quarter-finals with an entertaining 3-2 victory over Reading FC in a fifth-round replay, and will next play Middlesbrough FC after they enjoyed a second successive penalty shoot-out success.

Storming start
United made an incredible start at the Madejski Stadium, storming into a 3-0 lead inside the first six minutes. The game had barely got going when Gabriel Heinze fired a left-footed shot which squirmed underneath the body of goalkeeper Adam Federici and into the net. Louis Saha got the second with a left-foot drive across Federici two minutes later and Ole Gunnar Solskjær made it three after beating Reading’s offside trap and finishing classily with the outside of his right boot.

Reading rally
Dave Kitson offered Reading hope a revival with a close-range headed goal in the 23rd minute and the home side brought themselves right back into the match with a firm header by Leroy Lita six minutes from time. Reading piled on the pressure in the closing stages and came agonisingly close to forcing extra time when Brynjar Gunnarsson thumped the ball against the crossbar in added time.

Boro through
United now face Middlesbrough on Saturday evening after they beat West Bromwich Albion FC 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns. West Brom's Darren Carter curled in the opening goal with his left foot in the 26th minute, and Mark Viduka equalised in the 63rd minute but there were no further goals before Neil Clement and Sherrill MacDonald missed in the shoot-out for the first division club. Arsenal FC travel to Blackburn Rovers FC in another FA Cup fifth-round replay on Wednesday.